Fonds - Florence Gertrude Farmer fonds

Florence Gertrude Shirley Pauling was born in London, England March 23, 1917. She came to Canada in 1919, arriving in Agassiz BC with her mother Gertrude Ethel Shirley (Feb 22, 1882-Mar 22, 1975). Gertrude Shirley was born in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England, who had married Robert Pauling (April 2, 1869-Jan 31, 1960), a butcher by trade and a soldier in World War I. Robert Pauling immigrated ahead of his wife and daughter and opened a butcher shop in Armstrong BC.

By October 1919 the family were living in Salmon Arm BC, where her uncle, George Shirley, was living. Florence attended the Central School on Harris Street until Grade 3, when the family moved to Armstrong for several years, then to Kamloops in 1930, where she completed Grade 9, and finally back to the South Canoe area of Salmon Arm.
After Grade 9, Florence quit school to help at home and to work at casual labour jobs in the local orchards.
In September 1936, Florence married Frank Farmer of Salmon Arm at her parents’ home, both declaring Anglican as their denomination. The young couple went to reside on Martin Road (now 10th Ave SE), on the Elgood place.
In November 1939, this couple had a son, Richard Charles Farmer. When Richard started school in 1945, the family had moved to 3rd Ave SE.

Frank and Florence Farmer owned the Front Street Grocery, which operated for about eleven years. In 1942 Frank Farmer was elected Alderman and Mayor in 1944.

The couple divorced in 1950. Florence began to work for the SAFE grocery emporium and then later with Salmon Arm Meat and Produce, later Askew’s grocery, and remained a close friend of the Askew family. For many years, she was associated with James Maxwell Honey, though never married. Florence was an active member of Salmon Arm United Church, Salmon Arm Museum and the Okanagan Historical Society. She died October 12, 2008 at Salmon Arm BC.