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Eunice Gorman is definitely a paragon of a life well lived.
The last remaining founder of Gorman Brothers Lumber in West Kelowna passed away at home Thursday at the age of 100 surrounded by hymn-singing family.
She was married to Ross Gorman who started the company in 1949 with his brother, John, who was married to Edith.
Ross passed away in 2014, Edith in 2009 and John in 2002.
As such, Eunice's death is the end of an era, but she also leaves a legacy.
She was Gorman Brothers Lumber's first bookkeeper, raised six children with Ross and their son-in-law, Nick Arkle, is now the manager of the business.
"This little box plant has grown into the Gorman Group of Companies," said Eunice in a post on the Gorman Brothers Lumber website.
"As one of the founders, it is my wish that the same (Christian) principle we began with continues to be honoured,"
Gorman is a well known name in the Central Okanagan, not just because of the family's business acumen and community mindedness, but because the Gorman mill is so high-profile located right on Highway 97 near the turnoff to Glenrosa.
When the two couples started the business 72 years ago, it was, in fact, a little box company.
A sawmill started a few years later to produce dimensional lumber.
Over the years, Gorman's decided to concentrate on one-inch boards to recession-proof the company because such lumber is always needed for interior finishing and renovations and furniture.
As such, Gorman Brothers Lumber has grown to be West Kelowna's largest private-sector company and employer with 300 workers.
The family let the community know of Eunice's passing on the Gorman Brothers Lumber Facebook page.
"We are so sorry to announce that on Sept. 16, Eunice Gorman, the last of the founding members of Gorman Brothers, passed away," it read.
"She had celebrated her 100th birthday only 24 days ago and has spent the last weeks reflecting on an incredible life lived."
The post didn't reveal the cause of death.
The Facebook news prompted scores of condolence messages.
"I was privileged to know her for over 62," wrote Levina Kneller.
"An amazing, lovely lady who will be missed and leaves a remarkable legacy."
"I had the pleasure of having tea with this lady one day," said Greg Bertrim.
"The stories she told me that day made me proud to work for a company that they put so much of themselves into."
"(I) remember as a kid delivering her newspaper and getting to swim in their pool," messaged Rene Grandmaison.
"Good memories and an amazing woman who will be dearly missed."
"An amazing woman who had an impact on so many," wrote Jeremy Griffin.
"What a life, what a story to tell, what an incredible legacy to carry on."
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