Carole Ann Jean (McLeod) Cox (1940-2019)

Carole Ann Jean (McLeod) Cox was born 11 May 1940 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. She passed away at her home in Winnipeg on 7 October 2019 with her daughter, Janelle and her husband, John Cox by her side.

Despite many health setbacks (she was a breast cancer survivor and was also diagnosed with Chronic lymphocytic leukemia) Carole is remembered for remaining upbeat in the face of adversity. You can tell by that smile on her face! She explained...

I am a very strong believer that attitude will carry you along way, plus a very healthy dose of humour.

Carole (McLeod) Cox was the great-great-granddaughter of pioneers, John Culbert and Mary Ward who left Ireland in 1840 and settled in Biddulph Township near Lucan, Ontario. 

Carole's grandparents were George Arthur Culbert (1882-1978) and his wife, Jean McLeod Campbell (1884-1972). George Arthur Culbert was the son of John & Mary's youngest son, Richard Culbert and his wife, Jane Eleanor Fairhall.

Carole's grandparents on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary in 1957, Jean McLeod (Campbell) Culbert and George Arthur Culbert 

Carole said that all his Manitoba relatives called her grandfather, George Culbert. I told her that all his Ontario relatives called him Arthur Culbert. She replied, "I honestly never heard my grandfather called anything but George." So regardless of whichever name you choose to call him, George Arthur Culbert left his home on Poplar Farm near Lucan, Ontario when he was a young man to seek his fortune in Manitoba.

Carole was the daughter of Jean Elsie Culbert (1908-1975) and James Archie McLeod (1904-1979).
 

Carole's parents, Jean Elsie Culbert and James Archie/Archibald McLeod on their wedding day, 20 August 1938 in Winnipeg.

Carole's mother Jean (Culbert) McLeod moved to Winnipeg from Boissevain, Manitoba, and became a Registered Nurse. She met her future husband at a nursing school dance. Carole had planned to write her mother's story for us but her illness got in the way.

Carole's father, Dr. James McLeod was a parasitologist, and the Head of the Zoology Department at the University of Manitoba. Dr. McLeod received an award for his discovery of the organism that causes an uncomfortable rash known as "swimmer's itch." When he made the discovery, he was a young, post-graduate research worker at the University of Manitoba.

Headline from the Winnipeg Tribune, 26 October 1934.

I asked Carole about her father's discovery and she replied...

He discovered the microbe in the lake that made swimmers very uncomfortable. He infected himself with the microbe to prove his research. However, he was dating my Mom, and she wrote in her diary that she was dating a man that was constantly scratching.  I guess he explained as eventually they did marry.

Dr. McLeod was the authority on tapeworms and he authored two books on the subject including the definitive study, The Zoology of Tapeworms, a massive tome which he co-authored with Robert A. Wardle. 

I asked Carole about her father's tapeworm books and she said...

He did not make any money from these publications.  With the completion of the second book, I wanted him to put a "flashy woman" on the cover and call the book "The Sex Life of a Tapeworm," then maybe he would make a bit of money. He had a chuckle, but no go!

You may be familiar with Scotland's Loch Ness Monster or British Columbia's Ogopogo. But how many of you know about Manipogo of Lake Manitoba? Thought to be anywhere from 12 to 50 feet long, Manipogo is described as "a long muddy-brown body with humps that show above the water, and a sheep-like head."

Manipogo

In the early 1960s, Carole's father, Dr. James McLeod set out to try to locate the remains of the creature. He found none. 
 

Headline from the Calgary Herald, 18 August 1961

I asked Carole about her father's involvement with Manipogo and she replied...

Yes, it was my Dad that went looking for the monster. I have the original newspaper article framed and hanging in my kitchen, one of his favourite places to sit. The paper's cartoonist drew a pic of Dad in a boat. This cartoon headed up the article about his search. While Dad was out on the lake, someone phoned my Mom and asked why he was looking for monsters when he had two monsters at home? Needless to say, my Mom was not pleased. My sister and I thought it was hilarious!

Carole also mentions her father's involvement with the Manitoba Museum...

My Dad and two other academics started the Manitoba Museum in what is now the Manitoba Archives. I remember going with Dad to the Museum and seeing all sorts of jars with animal fetuses like a two-headed pig. The museum grew and the city built the museum a new building. Dad was given the honouree title of a founder and a lifelong member of the Board of Directors. His name is carved into the entrance wall along with other life members.

In her youth, Carole was a champion figure skater. I don't have any photos from her figure skating days but I have a few photos from her childhood that she sent to me...

Carole McLeod c1943, about age 3.

First cousins, Richard Revis "Dick" Culbert (left) and Carole McLeod c1941. Dick was two and a half weeks older than Carole. He grew up to be a legendary mountaineer. You can read about him in this previous post.

Four generations in 1946. Carole is about 6 years old. She's standing beside her great-grandmother, Jane Eleanor (Fairhall) Culbert. Carole's mother, Jean Elsie (Culbert) McLeod stands behind Jane. Carole's grandfather (father of Jean Elsie, and son of Jane) George Arthur Culbert is behind Carole.

Carole attended the University of Manitoba. She lived all her life in Winnipeg with the exception of one year in Toronto.

Carole was Chairwoman of the Pembina District Boy Scouts; President of the Clan MacLeod Association; and she was involved with the Manitoba Highland Dancers' Association. 

Carole had a long and successful career as a merchandiser with Lowney, Johnson & Johnson, and then L’Oreal. She happily retired in 1993. 

Carole loved to travel and her favourite destination was the United Kingdom. She was an avid reader, gardener and cook. Carole loved to entertain and her home was always the place to be for the holidays.

Carole took the Ancestry DNA test. For those of you who've taken the test and want to see how much DNA you share with Carole, type her username 71ccox into the Member Search directory on your Ancestry home page.

Here's what she told me about the DNA test...

I found "new" cousins. Thanks heavens they are as crazy and fun-loving as the Culbert family I have known most of my life. I could not get over the physical resemblance of the known and unknown cousins. Irish Culbert genetics alive and thriving.

Carole is remembered for her passion for good times and laughter. Carole is still with us in spirit so let's give her the last word...

All of my Culbert family are always up for a party. When we get together, it is just non-stop laughter! - Carole (McLeod) Cox.

Carole in a friend's kitchen in England

Carole Ann Jean (McLeod) Culbert's Family Tree:
Ancestors:
John Culbert & Mary Ward (great-great-grandparents)
Richard Culbert & Jane Eleanor Fairhall (great-grandparents)
George Arthur Culbert & Jean McLeod Campbell
Jean Elsie Culbert & Dr. James Archie McLeod (parents)
Descendants (Children):
James David McLeod (1966-2009)
Kristen Verin-Treusch
Janelle McLeod 

To view Carole's obituary, click here.