Obituary of Joan Louise SANDERSON (nee Morris)

November 17, 1930 – Calgary, Alberta

May 28, 2020 – Calgary, Alberta

Joan Louise Sanderson, affectionately called “the Little Red Hen”, of Calgary, AB, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 28, 2020 at the age of 89 years.

Joan was born on November 17, 1930, to Marjorie Cain and Ivor Morris and lived her whole life in Calgary. She worked with her mother at a diner as a teenager, where she met and married Calvin Oughton at the age of 20. They were blessed with six children and the family grew deep roots in the city. Although they divorced and both remarried, Joan and Calvin became close friends later in life. They formed the Breakfast Club with their children, meeting every Saturday morning for loud chatter and many laughs at various breakfast spots around the city. Joan was industrious and resourceful over her “80 something” years on earth, teaching herself many skills, sometimes out of necessity for her family and sometimes out of pure passion. As a single mom, she worked at Woodward's as a sales clerk in the floor coverings department. She impressed one of the suppliers, luxury carpet company, Crossley Karastan, so much she was offered a job in their regional office. Once the kids were grown, she married Ken Sanderson. Together, they shared a love of going to horse races in Calgary and travelling to Maui to walk miles along the beach at sunset collecting seashells. Somewhere along the way, Joan developed an incredible love of plants and the ability to nurture them. She parlayed that passion into a twenty-plus-year career as “the Plant Lady” at Mount Royal College, where she managed the horticulture services across the campus. She took her green thumb home with her every day, tending to an award-winning garden in her backyard. Each spring, for decades, Albertans travelled from far and wide to purchase Joan’s exceptional tomato plants grown from her own seeds. In her later years, when many were beginning to enter retirement, Joan converted her beloved, custom-built log home in the heart of Calgary into a bed & breakfast, where she hosted many visitors and made close friends.

Joan was full of character and gave all of herself, to everything she did. Her legacy will always be the values of devotion and work ethic she raised her children with and the love of family that she instilled in them.

Joan is survived and fondly remembered by her six Oughton children, Randy, Carolyne, Cheryl (Cathie), Jason (Brenda), Leslie and Leanne (Jacque); six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother, Rick Fabbi.

A Private Family Service will be held. Please contact the family if you wish to attend the Viewing, Funeral Service, or any other planned Celebrations of Joan’s Life. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Joan’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

In living memory of Joan Sanderson, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Fish Creek, 14441 BANNISTER ROAD SE, CALGARY, Ab, t2x 3j3,  Telephone: 403- 256-9575.