Mary Elizabeth "Joan" Pullin

It is with broken hearts that we mournfully announce the passing of our special and dear person, Joan Pullin.

Mary Elizabeth Joan Pullin, always known as Joan, was born in the “bunkhouse” at Beaton Creek, AB on June 24, 1934, the youngest of 7 children to Theresa and Wallace Pullin. Dr. Strange, and Joan’s sister Thelma, who was a nurse, assisted at her birth. When she was 2, the family moved to the Clear Hills district. However, her mother decided it would be better if her and her sister Thora returned to the Beaton Creek School for Grade 1. They walked about a mile to the one-room school with the Hansen children. The following school years were rather hectic, with Grade 3 in West Jasper Place, Edmonton, AB, Grade 4, in part, at Whalley, B.C., Grade 5 was in Port Mann, B.C., Grade 6 was correspondence at Hasell, Grade 7 at Dixonville and finally the last 5 years of Junior and Senior High were spent in New Westminster, B.C. After Grade 12, she attended New Westminster Business College, then returned to Peace River, AB where she stayed with her sister Thelma, and got a job as a bookkeeper for Northwest Motors. She remained there several years then returned to B.C. where she stayed with her sister, Thora, and worked at Reichhold Chemicals in Port Moody for several years. Returning to Peace River, AB, she worked a number of jobs as a bookkeeper.

In May of 1953, while on a visit to the farm in Clear Hills, she was riding her horse in the bush north of the farm in uncharted land, when she happened to meet Robert Smaldon. Robert was a foreman for the Steed & McLeod Construction Co. and was building a road for the oil company, City Service. They struck up a friendship; although he was estranged from his wife, became serious. In those years, it was quite taboo. However, after several years, and the death of Thelma, they rekindled their friendship and in 1959 decided to break with tradition and live together. The first several years, they lived in the Lahey apartments and the next several years in a small white house by the river. Then in 1966, they purchased their own home at 8114-96 Street. In 1980, they purchased a second home at 7305-96 St. and realized Bob’s wish of a “home with a garage and by the river”. Through a lot of ups and downs over the years, the relationship remained stable and contrary to tradition they were still together after 45 years.

Joan was a 50-year member of the Eastern Star, a non-active member of the Peace River Royal Canadian Legion and in later years served as director on several boards. She spent 10 years on the RCMP Community Police Committee, the Peace River Community Service Board and the Peace River Seniors Club. For 10 years she served as an active member of the Peace River Duplicate Bridge Club and was “Score Keeper/Treasurer” of the club. It was in this capacity that she reached her goal of becoming “computer literate”, by learning the scoring of Bridge with the computer program. She was an avid China collector, as her 8 or 9 china cabinets will attest to. Between that and Bridge, she kept herself busy.

Joan is survived by many nieces and nephews and their families. The ones she was particularly close to: Judy Peppler, Gail Dodds, Roland and Roger Larson and Gregory Pullin. Her step-children and their families; Rod Smaldon and Gail Walker.

She was predeceased by her partner Bob Smaldon (2008), father Wallace Pullin (1969), mother Theresa Pullin (1978), sister Thelma Casper (1956), brother Bruce Pullin (1981), brother Rodney Pullin (1981), brother Earl Pullin (1989), Roy Pullin (2002), and Thora Larson (2017).

Donations can be made to the Peace River Palliative Care Society in Joan's memory.

A Graveside Service with be held Tuesday, July 9th, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Peace River, AB.  

Care entrusted to Peace Valley Funeral Home, Peace River, AB
780-624-1010

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Mary Elizabeth "Joan" Pullin, please visit our Tree Store.