March 7 1984
Free Press Files
A pioneer of the South Country, Ella May Beaudry died February 26 in Fernie District hospital at the age of 94 years after a short illness.
Ella May Beaudry was born in Medicine Hat, N.W.T. on August 1, 1889. She moved with her family in 1900 to the South Country where her father, Fred Roo, established a general store and post office. Other stores were built in Flagstone and Elko under the name of “Roosville Cash Stores.”
With the death of Fred in 1920, May took over the operation of the Elko store.
The Elko store was destroyed by fire in 1920, was rebuilt, and survived the devastating fire of 1931 which burned out much of the once-busy town of Elko.
May married Wilfred Beaudry in 1934 and continued to run the Elko store until the early 1950’s when another fire destroyed the store and the adjoining gas station.
Losing her husband in 1967, May operated a small tourist court until the early 1970’s when she retired. Her final years were spent at the home of her sister-in-law, Mary Roo, and at the Tom Uphill Memorial Home in Fernie.
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