Obituary of Doris Alberta Johnston

Doris Alberta beloved wife of Mr. Alexander “Homer” Johnston of Calgary passed away peacefully at the Intercare Chinook Hospice on Monday, January 28, 2008, after a courageous battle with cancer at the age of 79 years. Besides her loving husband of fifty years, Doris is remembered by her son James Johnston of Calgary;. Daughters, Marian Johnston-Harvie (Eric) of Banff, Caroline Johnston (Bill Brown) of Calgary; grandchildren, Mackenzie, Liah and Erin; sister Mary Shepherd of Dawson Creek, BC; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Doris was predeceased by her parents Emerson and Mary “Minnie” Hahn, siblings Weidrick, Aurelia, Faith, Dale and her beloved daughter Jenne Johnston. Doris was born in Berwyn, AB, and grew up on a farm which her father homesteaded in the early 1900’s near Paul’s Corner south of Berwyn. Her parent’s both from North Carolina raised a hardworking family thru the depression years. Doris went to high school at Camrose Luthern College and studied fashion design at SAIT. With the support and love of Homer and seven years of hard work and four children later Doris become the first female graduate in Geology at the University of Calgary. She worked at the University of Calgary in the Department of Geology and Geophysics where she did research and taught numerous students in her sedimentary petroleum geology lab. Doris and Homer traveled the world, no continent and very few countries were left unexplored. Their taste for adventure led them to the high Arctic, the wilds of Russia, the mysteries of Myanmar and the source of the Amazon. Over forty years ago Doris purchased her beloved cabin on Windermere Lake and with her family and friends spent numerous summers and cold winter nights enjoying her retreat. She lived to see her dream of rebuilding the cabin and was fortunate enough to spend most of the summer of 2007 enjoying the fruits of her labour. Doris also had a passion for bridge becoming a Bronze Life Master with the ACBL and enjoyed the competition until her final days. Warmest thanks to her loving friends, the care givers at the Intercare Chinook Hospice who were so kind and giving as well as Sharon Paul with Palliative Care. A Celebration of Doris’ life will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S “Park Memorial Chapel” (5008 Elbow Drive SW) on Friday, February 1, 2008 at 10:30 am. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Canadian Cancer Society, 215 – 12 Avenue S.E., Calgary, AB T2G 1A2 Telephone: (403) 205-3966, email debbies@cancer.ab.ca. In living memory of Doris Johnston, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES Park Memorial Chapel, 5008 ELBOW DRIVE S.W. Telephone: (403) 243-8200.