SURREY - Betty McClurg, a long-time social justice advocate in the community, passed away on June 24 at the age of 80.

She was known throughout Surrey for her work on countless boards and teams, as well as her devotion to helping others.

"She was the type of mother that you could always depend on to stand by you and never hold anything against you if you made a mistake," said her son, Steve. "I think she was known that way in the community too. She never held grudges or laid too much blame on people."

McClurg was B.C.'s first constituency assistant, working for MP Barry Mather and MLA Ernest Hall in the late 1960s at their office in Whalley.

She was an honourary life member of the NDP and served at least twice as the campaign manager for Hall, who represented Surrey from 1966 to 1976 and 1979 to 1983.

McClurg served as a school trustee on the Surrey school board from 1970 to 1974 and was a member of For All Surrey Team throughout its existence. She was also the executive director of Langley Family Services from 1980 to 1996.

She also served terms on the Surrey Memorial Hospital board and on the Guildford Community Partners board.

Her lifelong interest in politics contrasted her that of her family. Steve noted that her parents viewed voting as a solemn occasion.

"Her family, when she grew up, was absolutely the opposite," he said. "They would go out and vote, but they never discussed it. She was very different than her family."

Her daughter, Arlie McClurg, is a former advertising sales director at the Now.

McClurg leaves behind her son Steve and his wife Sharon Kurtz; daughters Arlie and Meredith and their husbands, Rick Hastie and Don Keillor; grandchildren Lindsey Sweetland, Courtney Erfle and Derek Keillor; three great-grandchildren; brother Neil Craig and his wife Ellen; sister-in-laws Frances Eamor, Elaine Hansen, Betty Sawri, Gail Sullivan and Donna Thomson; and Donna's husband Jim.

She was predeceased by her husband Ron and her two sisters, Dawn Abercrombie and Judy Wright.

Her memorial is scheduled for Friday, July 20, at 1 p.m. at the Compass Point Inn, located on 9850 King George Blvd.