1932 - 2023
Frances Irene McDougall (Irene) was born on July 24, 1932 at
Swalwell, Alberta, with a Mennonite midwife in attendance. Because
she was over 10 lbs. a doctor had been called to help with the
delivery. Irene passed away March 13, 2023 in Jensen Beach, Florida
at age 90.
She is survived by her son Ross McDougall (Jeannie) of Franklin,
North Carolina and her daughter Diana McDougall of Stuart, Florida.
She had 2 grandchildren (Jeff and Jenna) and five great grandchildren
(Lenore, Luna, Leon, Scarlett and Sierra). Also surviving her are her
brother Jim Jackson (Carroll) of Blackie, AB and her sister Helen
Smith (Dave) of High River, AB. Her daughter Gail and ex-husband
Jim McDougall (father of her children) both predeceased her. There
are many cousins and nieces and nephews in Canada who survive
her. She was the first grandchild of the large JR Jackson family of
Sundre, AB.
Irene attended elementary school Grade one at Richmond Hill and
then went to Brant for Grades 2-9 and completed High School in
High River. She boarded for 3 years at Mary McKeague’s home and
Mrs. Jones boarding house up by the water tower.
She worked part time at the BA Cafe for Mrs. Ramage to get spending
money and to help with rent.
After her graduation in 1950 she attended nursing school at the
Holy Cross Hospital to become a Registered Nurse graduating in
the class of 1953-54. She and Jim McDougall were married in the
High River United Church on Feb. 13, 1954.
Over the years her travels took her to live in various places, Swalwell,
AB, Lobley, AB, Brant, AB, High River, AB, Calgary, AB, Freeport,
Bahamas, West Palm Beach, Florida, Phoenix, Arizona, Chandler,
Arizona, and finally Jensen Beach Florida.
She loved her family and friends and her work as a nurse. She had
many nursing tales to tell of people’s misadventures. As a schoolgirl
she played basketball and baseball and went ice skating at the Brant
rink during lunch hours at school. Later she did a lot of boating,
waterskiing and swimming.
For over 30 years she had a special friend “Ned Nuttall” with whom
she learned to be a sailor in the 70’s and 80’s. They travelled quite a
bit and sailed on many lakes and up the coast of the U.S. to Canada
on the Pacific Ocean. Sadly, he passed away in 2009.
As time went on her health began to fail and most of the entertainment
was puzzles, crossword, jigsaw etc., and like her Mom, she loved
bingo and flowers (petunias in particular). She was grateful to Diana
for helping her through her final years and just being there for her.
She chose her final resting place to be in the Atlantic Ocean near the
Abaco Islands in the Bahamas on or about July 24, 2023. This would
have been her 91st birthday.
