Laura May Blaker

Laura was born in Edmonton, Alberta. She was the oldest of seven siblings: Jim, Doug,

Bill, Dave, Len, and Dorothea.

Growing up during the Depression, she learned important life lessons: caring for people, industriousness, being inventive, and how to be thrifty. It was not an easy time, but she carried the strength of those lessons her entire life.

Laura was predeceased by her husband, Dennis Philip Blaker, in 1995. They had a long life together, raising their family in Whitehorse. Summers were spent camping throughout the Yukon, and finding all the perfect fishing spots and berry patches. Their home was filled with laughter. It was not uncommon for friends to live with the family for long periods of time, filling the small house to bursting.

Laura loved making new friends, and made them easily. She was more than happy to exercise her prodigious verbosity with anyone who stood still long enough! If you were her friend, it was for life.

Laura had a number of careers. She provided daycare for many families during the 1960s and 70s. Laura would often send children home with a loaf of fresh baked bread, and each had a gingerbread house at Christmas.

Laura was a housekeeper at Whitehorse General Hospital. She later manned the Ziggy’s deli counter at Super Valu like it was her own. The delicious potato salad was her own recipe.

She was most proud of raising her family.

Until her death, she continuously regaled

people with tales of her children, and how proud she was of them.

Laura spent her last years on Denman Island, BC, with Maureen and Paul. She was very happy, living on a small acreage where she enjoyed puttering in the gardens, visiting her chickens, and strolling the beach, collecting shells.

She is survived by her three children: Maureen (Paul) Stephens, Yvonne (Ken) Watson, and Fred (Jacintha) Blaker; her grandchildren David, Kahlil, Amber and Emmett; and great-grandchildren Tiki and Channing.

Laura was cremated and interred next to her husband Denis at Tagish Lake Cemetery, where they will spend eternity fishing and picking berries together.

The family received many tributes from friends of Laura. The following, sent to the family by Carrie-Lyn Robinson, is an example:

Laura and my grandmother were best friends at McCauley Lodge. They played crib together and visited often! I can attest that Laura was a bundle of fun and laughter as many Wednesday nights we would dance to old time tunes played by Ken and the Gang! Laura was such a positive and caring person and I was so happy to see her with her budgies, and enjoying her life with Maureen and Paul. What a gift! Her smile and energy is now fueling the Northern Lights…and when you whistle she’ll be the one dancing with your memories.