Lynne lost her inspiring, year-long battle with glioblastoma on February 4th, 2014. Actually, competitive to the end, Lynne would have noted that it was a 13 month battle, emphasizing that she outlived her prognosis and that she squeezed every bit of life out of the time that she had.
Lynne was born in Rimbey, Alberta on January 24th, 1962, the first of four daughters born to Blake and Donna Marshall. Independent, competitive, bright and outgoing – for Lynne “focus” was a five letter word and a concept, not an attribute to be embraced. She had boundless interests and energy and the spark to initiate many more projects than those around her could ever hope to steer to conclusion. The scope covered her farms and animals – dogs, horses, and the occasional barn cat, her machinery – farm, boats, cars, houses; and her homes – whether painting, gardening, designing, building or renovating.
Lynne had an amazing range of styles and tremendous capacity for entertaining, whether in her own home or simply sharing her love of food and red wine on her travels for vacation or on business. We were all in awe of her ability to maintain a natural athleticism despite a severe allergy to any form of training or formal exercise regimen as she migrated from riding, sailing, skiing and waterskiing into a later life love of cycling… or rather the association of good cycling with fine vineyards and varied cuisines. She found her professional calling as a lobbyist; it played to her powers of persuasion, her charm and competitive salesmanship, but what really made her special was her ability to deliver difficult messages with a smile.
From 2001 to 2014 Lynne and Wayne crammed a lifetime of experiences into little more than a decade, taking five children through teenage years and into adulthood, building careers and businesses and allowing Lynne the freedom to build the house her mind had imagined, to enjoy Windermere, to travel widely, to invest in her winery and to build a group of friends of whom the best that we can say is, “they were there with her throughout her fight”.
She opted for early retirement in 2005 – taking advantage of the opportunity to travel with Wayne and to influence the journeys not just of our young adults, but those of others too. She loved children, not only her own two, or the extended family with three stepsons, but of all the friends of a child and every child of a friend who came through the door; she possessed a true generosity of spirit that was felt by everyone who knew her.
Lynne was predeceased by her father, Blake Marshall, who was also taken by glioblastoma in 1996. She is survived by her mother, Donna Marshall, her husband, Wayne Foo, her son Ryan Burgess, daughter Alexa Burgess and her stepsons Gordon (Diana), Malcolm and Darcy Foo; as well as her sisters Jill Bain (Ryan), Shelley Campf (Jeff) and Allison Mallory (Bob); and her four nephews Chad and Blake Campf and Wade and Evan Mallory.
The family would like to extend sincere appreciation to all of her care team at FMC Units 111 and 112, the Tom Baker Cancer Centre and Carewest Sarcee Hospice. Knowing that Lynne was unable to remember, they each ensured that she felt special at all times. In particular we would like to thank Jay, Jenna and John for their long and very personal engagement. In lieu of flowers, a fund will be established in Lynne’s name to support the new Calgary Cancer Centre. Details will be posted on Wayne’s Ride to Conquer Cancer page or will be available through the family in the spring. An open celebration of Lynne’s life was held at the Glencoe Club on Tuesday, February 11th.
Condolences may be expressed through leydens.com