We are sad to announce the passing of Mary Louise “Lou” McDougall (nee: Johnson). She lost her short battle with cancer in the early hours of Saturday July 10, 2021 and passed away peacefully at home.

Lou grew up in Maidstone, Saskatchewan; studied in Portland and lived in parts of B.C. Before settling in the Edmonton area.

She was predeceased by her parents, son-in-law Jeffery Houseman and her previous husband Bruce McDougall as well as her brothers-in-law Murray Carson and Keith Colvin. She is survived by her husband and soulmate Marvin Smith, daughter Carolyn Houseman and her children Nick and Avery, her step-son Kirk Smith, his partner Mellisa and their blended family Tyler, Ashley, Avery and Sydni. She will also be missed by her sisters and brother; Marge Colvin, Kay Carson and Rick Johnson (Pam) as well as her many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews and her dear friend Dianne Schmaltz.

Lou had a varied work life as a milkman, salesman, florist, recreation therapist and entrepreneur. She loved “her seniors” and being an avid animal lover could be found entertaining her day program participants with visits from alpacas, donkeys, chicks and other assorted critters. Her time with the pet therapy program saw her taking her pet chicken, Rusty and dog, Tess to visit many seniors in the city.

Other loves in her life were her beautiful gardens, setting up a community garden, being a part of the garden club and sharing both her knowledge and her perennials with others. Lou loved to travel and explore different cultures and has made many friends all over the world. Sewing was another passion, especially making outfits for all the young people in her life and teaching others the craft. She was very involved in her church and known be involved with the congregation in fund raising activities such as the trail days concession, plant/Christmas centrepieces and bake sales. Lou was also an avid bird watcher and could often be found in local ditches and swamps to get a closer look when something caught her eye. After she retired she could be found sitting on the deck and reading a book.

Gregarious in life, she always knew her neighbours and was known to plan a party or two. All of these activities underscore the lessons her daughter says she learned from her mom – the importance of building and maintaining community and following one’s passions.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the charity of your choice in Lou’s name.

She will be missed!!!

There will be a celebration of life “Lou out” on September 04, 2021 at 134, 21431 Township Road 522 (Midway Estates) between 1:00 and 4:00 pm.

Elsie Alexandra Halvorson nee Paukszto
April 2, 1929 to July 13, 2021

Elsie might advise us to teach the young people to learn financial care for themselves. She was a teacher, of course and a mom. Born in Scott, Saskatchewan of immigrants from Poland she learned English in school and then taught her parents and then everyone after, good grammar, spelling and pronunciation. Her siblings, Mary & Vito, share that care for clarity.

Mom went to ‘Normal School’ at the University of Alberta where teachers were created in those days. At the one room country Setting Sun School, outside Metiskow, Alberta, she met and married Bob Halvorson and they farmed, raised three adults, Susan, Barry and Bruce the middle kid who pre-deceased her in a farm accident.

Grief can cause change so the couple ‘retired’ to Edmonton where they invested in the building of a car wash and they built a new circle of friends with time to enjoy the coffee always available for guests and themselves.

Elsie, met a wide variety of people with her ability to learn and have conversation on finance, politics and sports. She saw Gretzy and the Oilers skate around with Edmonton’s first Stanley Cup. Her grand children seem to have carried on her interests, especially in enjoying time with friends and conversation.

We thank and esteem all the people who work with seniors. Jasper Place Continuing Care took the word care to mean physical care for sure. AND everyone spoke to her, teased her and make life more than bearable. Hug a care giver for us anywhere you find one. That would be the ‘in lieu of flowers’ part of this obituary.

Hans passed away after a battle with cancer on July 8, 2021. He is survived by his wife Erika, children Marcus & Marilyn and Pam & Troy and grandkids Malachi, Sophie, Hudson and Charlotte. He enjoyed many years of running businesses, including his most recent Harrier Hans courier company. He still enjoyed soccer, taking his grandkids swimming and going to the YMCA. As per his request there will be no memorial or funeral service held. He is loved and will be dearly missed.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our mother Joyce Erlene Osness on April 27th, 2021 at the age of 75 years young. Joyce grew up on the family farm in Pompeys Pillar, Montana. She immigrated to Canada in 1969 and spent the majority of her adult life in Edmonton, AB where she worked as an accountant and raised 5 kids before retiring.

Joyce leaves a legacy of her artwork for us all to treasure, she had an incredible creative flair and had a vision of her own, forging her own path. Often her creative inspirations came from nature, animals especially, one of her great loves. She loved and cared for many cats and dogs through the years. She also had an avid interest in politics, keeping herself informed of and carefully weighing the issues, at all levels in Canada and the US.

Our mother will always be remembered by her younger brother Richard Osness and her 5 children: Paul Watson (Sasha), Jennifer Watson (Bill), Chris Watson, Tim Watson (Olana), and Heather Watson. Joyce loved her 10 grandchildren very much who will also remember her: Zoey, Jade, Alick, Trinity, Savannah, Elora, Eden, Elijah, Teagan and William. She was predeceased by her parents Erling and Rose Osness, older brothers Pat Marang and Charles Marang (Carol).

The family would like to thank Simply Cremations for handling her final arrangements with grace, it truly did make a difference.

A celebration of life will be held on August 20th, 2021 in Edmonton, details to follow.

May she rest in peace and her perpetual light shine upon us.

Raymond “Ray” Arthur Hudson made his last wildly inappropriate comment on May 24th 2021.
Born in Coaldale, Alberta on March 20, 1950, Ray leaves behind the legacy fitting of a great man, father, and grandfather. The eldest of six siblings of the late Kenneth and Florence Hudson, and is survived by two sons, Brad (Tara) and Colin (Ruselle) Hudson, of whom he was tremendously proud of, three grandchildren who were the only people who could ever successfully boss him around, and his brothers Kenny, Don (Anne), Hugh (Wendy), and Bruce (Naomi). He is predeceased by sister Linda (Les).
Ray was not one for travel, but he valued his relationships, and put greater emphasis on being a person who showed up for the people in his life. He maintained a correspondence with penpals Joy and Owen Bowers in New Zealand that dated back to his elementary school years.
Saying goodbye, however, was not Ray’s forte. In life, it was sneaking out from a party when no one was looking. That philosophy carried over in his passing, and was no more evident than in the case of learning of his grand exit, his good friend Jim Gormley remarked “Ray always said he would do anything to avoid giving my eulogy.”
Ray found great purpose in his work, no matter the employment, and made an impact wherever he went. He had an eye for process and logic (oftentimes his own), and for learning how things around him in the world worked. But to know him, he was more than any job or career. Infamous for his hesitation with the usage of patience and his near-biblical levels of candour, the larger truth was that he used the cover of cantankerous old man to protect something much gentler about himself, which his family often saw in him with his grandchildren. He loved fiercely and in no half measures. Coupled with his prolific vocabulary of profanity, one might argue that he loved four-letter words as much as he did his grandchildren, and took great joy in educating the Hudson family’s youngest generation on the alternative slang, despite pleas from their aggrieved parents.
A practicing Wiccan, Ray did away with a lot of traditionally Western approaches to end of life customs. He had emphasized to his family that in lieu of a funeral, he should be cremated and anyone inclined to do so could make charitable donations to the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation. Everyone who remembers Ray is asked to celebrate his life in their own way and the family encourages you to share your own story about the beloved man we warmly refer to as “Mr. Asshole” below.

Ron is survived by his long time partner Jo-Ann Ruff, his children Randy Hurst and his sons Soren and Ryder, Darrin Hurst and his children Josephine and Robin,Larae (Larry) Peppard and their daughter Analeigh, his step daughters Rachael (Graeme)Purches and their daughters Madison, Riley and Marina Coslovich, as well as his sister Myrna (Ronald) Krawchuk and their daughters Shelley, Debbie and Wendy (goddaughter) and his special brother Randy (Michelle)Ruff and their daughters Jaimie and Deidra, and sons, Travis and Tyler. He was pre deceased by his parents Alexander and Adeline and one brother Alexander.
Ron worked for many years in the oilfield industry and has acquired many friends and acquaintances. As per his wishes there will be no service but instead he would like you all to hoist a drink to him and wish him god speed.
The family wishes to thank all of those who have reached out during this difficult time.
Ron will be greatly missed by many.

Allan Brown passed away June 12 2021, at the age of 70, after a long illness. He is survived by his only sister Brenda and one uncle and many cousins. The family members reside throughout Canada, U.S.A. and Australia. Allan was predeceased by his father Harold in 1972, and mother Ruth in 2008.

Allan drove a cab for several decades and enjoyed his job. Later in his life he enjoyed          driving his Ford truck which was his pride and joy.

A memorial service will be held in July and date has not been determined yet.

Many thanks to the staff at the Leduc Hospital for their help with Allan during his stay there.

May he rest in peace with the knowledge that he is loved and missed by his family.

Richard (Ron) Beland passed away peacefully in Athabasca, Alberta on June 14, 2021 at 81 years of age. He will be sadly missed by his wife of 56 years, Pauline; sons Ronald and Michael(Marnie); daughter Chantal(Dean); grandchildren: Ryan(Alicia), Richard, Acacia, Raeghan, Joshua, Zachary, Nathan, Logan and Dolly; great grandchildren: Wesley, Sophie and Raiyden; brother Neil Kennedy.

Dad was a proud member of the Royal Canadian Air Force from 1957-1967. In 1996, he retired from Edmonton Telephones to Island Lake, Alberta, where he loved life with family and good friends. Dad was an avid smoker, spending countless hours grinding and smoking meats until he perfected his recipes.

A special thank you to Dr. Burger and the medical professionals at Athabasca Hospital. A thank you to special friends at Island Lake who provided tremendous support to the family during this difficult time. Dad, you will be forever loved, dearly missed and never forgotten.