Verna Mae Burroughs

Mae Burroughs (Hughes) was born August 9, 1926. Passed away in Kamloops, BC with her daughter at her side July 25, 2024. Two weeks short of her 98^th birthday. Born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, raised on Sunnyside Farm in Chaplin SK, to Griff and Alice Hughes, Mae was the youngest of 5 children – Ruby Silvester, Marie Williamson, Elmer Hughes, and Norman Hughes.

In January of 1949, Mae married William Bruce Burroughs (Bill) who had grown up with her in Chaplin. They celebrated almost 55 years as partners in life and work.  Mae helped husband Bill in his many business dealings – Burroughs Bros. Excavating, Burroughs Bros. Concrete Pumping, Burroughs General Store in Port Hardy, Crest Haven Mobile Home Park in Bellingham, Wash. They were a hard working team that were very successful together.

Mae and Bill moved from Saskatchewan to Whalley, Surrey in 1950 with daughter Bev and over the years resided in Port Hardy, Surrey again, Bellingham and in Qualicum Beach.  They spent over 26 winters in Blythe, California on the golf course before Bill’s death in 2004.

A very competitive golfer and curler, Mae loved sports. Golfing well into her 90s and still golfing very well she was shooting her age at Arrowsmith Golf Course pretty well every game until Covid when she also quit driving.

Mae is survived by her children Bev Byce (Olds, Alberta), Bobbie Harrison (Kamloops), and Bruce (Brenda) (New Westminster) and 6 Grandchildren – Geoff, Katie, Bruce, Karen, Jill and Mary-Beth and 8 Greatgrandchildren, sister in law Addie Hughes of Regina as well as many nieces and nephews and family in Saskatchewan and BC. Mae was predeceased by her grandson Chris Byce and sons in law Frank Byce and George Harrison.

Mae outlived all of her siblings and most of her close friends.  She always said if I go tomorrow, I’ve lived a great life, and she certainly did although she didn’t live long enough to see the Canucks win the Stanley Cup.  When she met Alex Burrows in 2020, she told him that he was one of her favourite players except he spelled his name wrong. The Blue Jays have lost one of their most dedicated fans, but Connor McDavid and Tiger Woods will have to be careful if she’s got any influence in heaven because they were not on her favourites list.

She will be dearly missed and the casino at Kamloops will have a little more money for the rest of us.

We’re having a gathering of friends and family to celebrate Mae’s life at Rotary Welch Park

2945 West Island Highway, Qualicum Beach, BC at 1:00 pm on August 16^th, 2024. 

Please join us to raise a glass to a life very well lived.

Arrangements entrusted to

Cypress Funeral & Cremation Services 250-554-2324

Condolences may be expressed to the family by phone or email through Cypress Funeral & Cremation Services: