Obituary of Enid Margaret Manson

September 26, 1929 – Calgary, Alberta

May 22, 2022 – Calgary, Alberta

The world has lost a great woman. Enid Manson was a beautiful person who shared her fiery intelligence, practical compassion, astute business sense, and savvy design skills with everyone who had the fortune to know her.

Although Enid was born during a time when gender roles limited women’s potential, this did not deter her! After attending Garbutt Business College in Calgary, she moved to Toronto to work as an operations manager for a stock brokerage firm. She was then recruited by Merrill Lynch to work in New York City where she managed the office and attended the New York School of Interior Design. In the 1960’s, it was difficult for women to attain leadership roles and she left New York after being denied several promotions. She returned to Calgary and embarked on a role as a project building manager for Milliken and Co on the first high-rise apartment in downtown Calgary (The Sundial). Thereafter, Enid worked as a manager for the National Health and Welfare Protection branch of the Federal Government in Ottawa where she met her dear husband, James (Jimmy) Manson. When Enid’s mother became unwell, she and Jimmy moved back to Calgary where she undertook a role as the Director of Employment Opportunities for the Alberta government. Enid was a passionate, smart, determined, dedicated leader who made her team better, not only as employees but as people.   

Enid loved politics; most of her friends and family would agree Enid loved to debate and discuss political ideas. She also loved to garden and design home interiors; she had an amazing eye for color, fabric, furniture, and design. She gifted her design talents to many people and, in turn, made the world a little more beautiful. Enid had a deep love for animals too. She adored her standard poodle, Edward, with all her heart. She also cherished her late Dandy Dinmont terriers (Holly, Cameron, and Georgie).

Enid will be dearly missed by her family, Lisa Watt (Bo) of Houston Texas; Howard Watt (Lynn) of Houston, Texas; Sandy Watt Kizan (Kelly) and their children, Bronwyn and Ryanna, of the Crowsnest Pass, Alberta; and Heather Watt Conradson (Brent) and their children, Ben and Jesse, of Calgary, Alberta; her stepchildren, Brian Manson and Kevin Manson of Edmonton and their children; her sister-in-law, Maureen Watt of Calgary; and numerous special neighbors and dear friends (Trina Brazzoni, Ian and Pat Gray, and all of Calgary).

Enid was predeceased by her husband, James Manson; brothers, Reggie, Lawrence, and Vinton Watt; sister-in-law, Elsie Watt; as well as her mother, Helen Watt, and father, Howard Watt, all of Calgary.

A Celebration of Life will be held this summer. Please leave a message if you would like to attend, condolences, memories, and photos may also be shared and viewed at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

In living memory of Enid Manson, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Crowfoot, 82 Crowfoot Circle NW, Calgary, AB T3G 2T3, Telephone: 403-241-0044.