Joyce Mae Mackie
May 30, 1938 – May 12, 2025
Joyce Mae Mackie (nee Lindner): Mother. Sister. Gardener. Raw Food and Peanut Butter Connoisseur. Spiritualist.
Born May 30, 1938 in Lakenheath, Saskatchewan; died May 12, 2025 in Kelowna, British Columbia; aged 86.
Joyce grew up on a farm south of Assiniboia which was homesteaded by the Lindner family in the 1930’s along with four sisters. Her mother Clara, a teacher, advised her daughters, to get an education and not marry a farmer. Joyce adhered to Clara’s advice and upon graduating from grade 12 at the aged of 16, promptly moved to Regina to work in a bank. Shortly thereafter she met and married Charles William Bowes moving to Vancouver soon after giving birth to their first child, Coralie. Three siblings were added in the next few years. A second marriage followed in 1966 to James William Mackie and a subsequent move to Kelowna followed to look after Joyce’s parents which she dutifully did (with her sister’s) until they parted this earth. Subsequently, Joyce moved to Victoria and then to Hawaii, enjoying the climate, fruit and produce before eventually returning to Kelowna. Joyce – enjoyed a healthy lifestyle as a raw food connoisseur but held onto a sweet tooth. She authored two books: Walking the River Thames: One Woman’s Solo Journey of Adventure and Self Discovery (2015) (chronicling her own 30-day journey) and Peanut Butter I Can’t Get Enough of It Cookbook (2016).
Joyce attended the University of British Columbia graduating in 1973, yet started teaching, after completing the initial two-year studies required at the time - as a single mom, caring for four children under the age of six -- initially at Lord Strathcona Elementary School in Vancouver and completing her teaching career at Dehart Primary in Kelowna.
Joyce was a devout follower of Self Realization Fellowship and lived by the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda with a favorite quote: All is love, all is joy, all is peace, all is love. He is all.
Family was very important to Joyce. Joyce leaves behind four children, Coralie, Dana, Tammy (Bernie) and Leagh (Goodheart) and five grandchildren, Megan, Samantha, Max, Ciaran and Jamie.
Joyce was predeceased by parents Herman Lindner (April 7, 1987) and Clara Gertrude Lindner (nee Bechard) (April 23, 2001), sister Lois and brother Raymond, brothers-in-law Rick and Lloyd and nephew Bradley. She is survived by sisters Fay, Dee and Sharon, niece Janet and nephews: Ray, Kent, Curtis, Lindsey, and Jeff.
We will all miss her soul light.
For he who beholds the light and from whence it flows, he sees it in his joy (William Woodsworth, 1884)
Donations invited to the Central Okanagan Hospice House.
