It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Neata Wava Corbett on April 08, 2024 at the age of 92. Neata was born September 19,1931 to Otto and Lizzie (nee Boomer) Merrifield in Red Deer,Ab.And the youngest of their 12 children. She was raised on a farm in the Hillsdown District, east of Red Deer.
Neata and her husband started their married life in Leduc, and when her husband started working in the oilfields, they moved around a lot and finally settling in Drayton Valley. As their family grew, Neata felt that town was no place to raise kids so in 1962, they bought a farm east and north of Clyde, across the road from the old Drive in Theatre, now the home of North Country Livestock Exchange. So mom leaving the comforts of town living moved us off to farm living which she knew so well, to a place with no power or running water. Mom worked hard on the farm - milking cows, tending hogs and chickens, growing a big garden. Dad continued to work off the farm,leaving mother with a lot of responsibly,which she managed quite well.Then wanting more land in 1966, they sold and again moved to a new farm in the County of Barrhead, along the Paddle River in the Roselea District.When Dad decided to retire from the oil patch and stay home to do the farming,mom decided to go out to work. She worked at Tomboy in the bakery, then worked at the Slaughter House, and then in the kitchen at the Keir Care Center, not knowing she would one day become a resident. In the early 90’s Neata along with a family friend Sharon Davis opened a Fabric Shop, called Heartland Variety, starting out with a little shop across from “the Mall”, later moving on to main street, across the street from what is now Kodiak Lake Hunting and Fishing Store. In June of 1992 Mom and Dad had a farm sale and retired to Barrhead.
Neata is survived by - one son, Arley (Diane) and 4 daughters -Madge Frigon, Shiela (Larry) Patterson, Evelyn, and Karen Zalewski, 13 Grandchildren and 17 Great Grandchildren.
Neata was predeceased by her husband, Arlington in 2000 and 3 sons - Allister (1965), Gordon and his wife Holly (2019), and Richard (2021), Grand Daughter-in-law, Hayley Frigon (2018) 1 son-in-law, Larry Frigon in 2019 and 1 Great Grandson, Timothy Frigon in 2020.
Cremation has taken place.
Celebration of life will be held on Monday, April 29 at the Rose Garden Chapel at 1:00 pm.
Donations can be made to the Barrhead Continuing Care Center or the Barrhead Health Care Center. Arrangement by Rose Garden Chapel.
