Always Remembered
June 22, 1929, Brandon, Manitoba - April 4, 2023, Calgary, Alberta
After a long, full and happy life Lois passed away peacefully at the
age of 93 in her sleep at her home.
Lois was a prairie farm girl, born in Brandon, Manitoba. Her early
education in Brandon was followed by the University of McGill,
Montreal and the University of Alberta where she received her
Bachelor of Education in Physical Education.
After one year of teaching in Calgary, Lois married and accompanied
her husband, a construction manager, to the newly formed town of
Uranium City in northern Saskatchewan where she taught.
Moving back to Calgary, Lois’s teaching career was interrupted by
having five boys. After the boys were in school Lois went back to the
University of Calgary and received her diploma in Library Science
and joined the Foothills School Division as a Resource manager for
12 years.
By this time, the family had moved to an acreage south of Calgary
where they lived for over 48 years.
Lois served for four years on the Board of the University of Calgary,
and for six years on the Board of the Banff School of Fine Arts,
on the Provincial Curriculum Committee, and on the executives of
other groups.
With the family grown up, there was more time for Lois’s interest
in weaving and spinning and community groups such as the Sheep
Creek Weavers, Country Lane Quilters, Ridge Riders, and the many
friends at Red Deer Lake United Church. Lois raised a dozen sheep,
sheared them herself, then washed and carded, spun, and wove
the wool.
Lois and her husband enjoyed their horses and dogs and riding with
the Ridge Riders in the Foothills with many mountain trails being
covered. Lois and girl friends for 20 years would get a wrangler
and ride remote mountain trails for a week. Lois loved bonfires,
gardening, reading good books, painting, swimming, hiking, biking,
walking, sewing, quilting, knitting, and travelling, especially cruising.
But her best and happiest times were when she was riding her
favourite horse right from her doorstep over the countryside.
After retirement Lois was an enthusiastic volunteer group leader for
Elderhostel Travel for over 10 years doing some 50 trips in Alberta,
mostly in the mountains.
Lois is survived by five sons: Roy, Bill (Maria), Robert (Diana Stuart),
Harold, and Bruce (Anik Champagne); and four grandchildren
Phillip, Patrick, Jonathan and Emma. Lois was predeceased by her
husband Bud after 66 years of marriage and her sister Loreen Henry.
Always grateful for such a wonderful life and proud of her five sons
and their families, Lois lived her final days in her own home on her
own with the help of her family for four years enjoying her mountain
view sunroom.
At Lois’s request there will be no funeral service. A private family
gathering will be held later.
