| Notes |
- Birth Registration:
Omar Neal Weeks
Born: 23 June, 1909
Male
Birthplace: Lindsville, AB
Father: Ira Weeks - birthplace Ontario
Mother: Roxy Alzina Andress, birthplace Ontario
Registered at Stettler, AB on 4 Nov. 1909
Occupation: Interior Decorator, Painter. Had his own business in Vancouver, B.C. until he retired in 1970. Sold his business and moved to Kelowna, B.C.
No family
Another version of the THE IRA WEEKS STORY
As told to me (Heather Williams) granddaughter of Ira Weeks by Omar and Dorothy Weeks (youngest son of Ira Weeks) May 03,1997.
Ira brought his family to Alberta in the spring of 1905. He purchased land to homestead in the Linnsville (close to Bulwark) area. Ira contracted Mr. Gorrell to break 30 acres as was part of the homestead agreement to break a minimum amount of land each year. Due to some storms, misfortune in losing his wife Roxy, Ira had taken a loan out against his homestead, so when he had Mr. Gorrell to clear more of the land and was unable to fulfill the payment, Ira lost his homestead.
FACT: Roxy( ANDRESS) WEEKS died Sept. 10, 1911 of incomplete abortion. Source: Death Certificate.
Thus little Omar Neal Weeks was motherless at the age of 2 years, in addition to his 6 other siblings.The family then moved 2 Ùa - 3 miles West of Knob Hill to a CPR house. Shortly after that Omar and Ira came home from church on a Sunday to find their rented home in smoulders, completely burnt to the ground. They lost all their personal belongings. My mother, Hazel Weeks Wilkie remained terrified of fires all her life, remembering that desolate feeling of earlier times.
Omar, as did many of his siblings, found work whenever and wherever they could. Omar recalls being the janitor at Arthurdale School, but his father Ira collected his wages and Omar never saw a penny of his earnings.
The years between 1913 and 1922-23 were lean and tough. Ira had lost the home place NW Ùb 223812W4 due to inability to meet his bank loan. Ira remained in the general area of Bulwark and worked at any odd jobs he could find. He always found employment in the areas of horse trading, horse training, farming, cutting and hauling logs. Ira had a brother Omar Weeks( occupation - barber) living in Chilliwack B.C. He owned his own business and had a family of 3 children. Whether Grampa Ira Weeks decided to visit his brother Omar or whether his restless spirit kept him roaming we are not sure but in the years 1922-23 Grampa Ira resettled in Agassiz B.C.. Here he lived and worked in the power station for approx. 2 years. The power station was a small shack, which had large pipes, and valves located in one end of the building and the family lived in the other end. The work involved opening or closing these valves according to the water run off from the mountains during the winter, springs months and during heavy storms. Hazel and Omar also lived with their Dad here and Omar attended school in this area as well. He recalls finishing Grade 7 schooling and is uncertain whether Hazel took classes here or not. He thinks she finished her Grade 8 in the Bulwark region. Ross and Zilla Weeks and their son Austin also came to Agassiz to find work.
As this kind of work was only seasonal Grampa Ira left Agassiz in the fall of 1925-26 on the Harvest Excursion back to Bulwark in Alberta.
Omar was also visiting the Millers home on a Sunday afternoon, when other friends of Millers arrived, including one person Dorothy Margaret Dettlaff. The following Sunday Dorothy and Omar attended the Stampede at Nose Hill. Omar was currently working for Joe Haggerty at Bulwark. the romance was on.
Dorothy and Omar were married November 02, 1933 at Dorothy's home in Throne. There were 18 guests including 2 witnesses at their wedding, and of this number 8 guests were family members. Her adopted mother was very much in disagreement with the nuptials. After the wedding Dorothy and Omar lived in Ira Weeks' barn.* The loft area was cleaned, papered and made a lovely, homey suite for 2. This barn was located in the coulee below the now Castor Hospital. The happy couple had lined the barn loft with brown paper to freshen the walls. Again her parents were horrified. Dorothy and Omar lived here for 3 months.
The next move was to a town named Chidwell - east of Lacombe. Omar worked for Jim Fife , a horse buyer for the Lacombe sales. They lived here until late spring of 1934. They moved from Chidwell to Wetaskawin. Again Omar was looking after stock at Pigeon Lake for a family - Wagers.
In the spring of 1935 Herman Frederick Dettlaff died suddenly of a heart attack; Dorothy and Omar returned to Throne to farm the Dettlaff homeplace. Omar purchased the machinery and stock from Mrs. Detloff as the farm was not doing well. Again the family was worried about foreclosure. Dorothy and Omar moved from Throne to Sylvan Lake. They both recall this as one of the worst moves they ever made. They bought a piece of land from a Finn and certainly were taken for a ride. Again they tried mixed farming for 2 years. This farm was 3 miles West of the Sylvan Lake town - size being Ùa section. Reality was facing them daily and eventually they sold out in 1939 and moved to Edmonton March 06.
The years 1939 to 1941 were spent working in Edmonton at whatever work could be found. They stayed in the apt. with Mrs. Dettlaff. Omar left in early August of '41 for Hammond BC . Dorothy joined Omar at the end of Sept.; the day after her brother's wedding (Sid Ley to Winnifred Payne) Sid was in the military and fought in WWII, his family living in Claresholm AB.
The next few years were tough, with many moves but all the while gaining experience and ideas of working for themselves. Hammond was a small place in lower mainland. Omar found work in the sawmill. The little shack was shared by 4 others and each had a little one room; thus sharing the hallways and bathroom. From Hammond Omar moved to Tollhurst - another 1 room place. He recalls paying $18.00 monthly for rent. Omar was running the tail sawer in the sawmill - an apparatus that turned the logs off the head saw. While operating this equipment one-day Omar was hurt badly - suffering a severe back injury. Eventually a claim was settled with the WCB at which during the rehabilitation time, Omar worked in a bowling alley sitting up the pins. His wage was $0.15/hour.
Their next move was to a 2-room suite in Flax. Omar was taking a welding course and used his studies to work for the city in the sewer dept. Also a large army camp was being constructed closeby and he worked here as well.
Another move but a most favorite one. They found a "beautiful" suite in Vancouver. Their landlords were the "Brookers". Both recall fond memories here and Omar worked on a fishing boat in the Prince Rupert area. He worked at this job for 3 months being paid $600. This was terrific and the best he had ever made. Bad news soon came tho. with the death of Dorothy's brother Sid in the fall.
Now was the time for their big adventure. Omar went into Interior Decorating and Painting of Buildings in Vancouver B.C. Their first home in Vancouver was a little house on 22 Ave. Next they moved to their larger home on 23 Ave in 1949. At this time Mrs. Dettlaff was in ill health and moved to their place to live with them. Mrs. Dettlaff lived here until she died in 1962. Many fond memories here on 23 Ave.. They had a thriving garden, special raspberry patch. Dorothy taught classical piano lessons from her home. In 1972, they sold this home for $23,400. moving to Rutland B.C. They rented in Rutland on Venture Road @ $140./mo. - approx. 4-5 months until their 'dream home' was finished on Knorr Road - taking possession in April 1973. Uncle Omar helped with the construction of his place, and did all the final painting.
Omar recalls starting his painting, wallpaper business in 1945, retiring in 1972. Dorothy was an excellent book keeper for them.
Certificate of Death:
Name: Omar Neal Weeks
Date of Death: May 29 2005
Sex: Male
Place of Death: Kelowna, B.C.
Age: 95
Birthplace: Alberta, Canada
Reg # 40220379-890
18710001
Memorial Graveside Service held Saturday, Aug. 20, 2005 at Markham. Omar's ashes and monument stone was placed at the foot of Roxy Alzina Weeks grave (his mother). Thirty cousins were in attendance with a luncheon held at Evangel Missionary Church Hall in Castor.
Markham Cemetery is located East of Castor. Follow Twp Rd 374 going East, approx. 7 km; Drive past Range rds 134 & 133; Shortly you will pass a farm on the Right hand side of the road, and after that is the Markham Cemetery, just yards down the road.
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My Scottish "Wilkie" Family
1909 - 2005 (95 years)