Obituary of Lois Jean Horton

HORTON, Lois J. January 7, 1925 – March 15, 2017 On Wednesday, March 15, Mrs. Lois Horton (nee Collins) of Sherwood Park and formerly of Vegreville died at 92 following a brief bout with cancer. Lois is survived by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren: Hobe (Helen) of Calgary and their daughter, Sydney; Jane (Brian) of Kamloops, and her children, Amber (Brady), Adam (Annika), Sarah (Julien) and Katelyn, and her grandchildren Leila, Alex, and Chloe; Margaret (Tom) of Sherwood Park and their children, Donald, Steve, Mary, and Julie; A. L. of Jasper; and Kate of Clearwater. Lois was predeceased by her husband, Wilfrid (Wufty); her parents, Herb and Laura Collins; her sister, Beryl; and her brothers, Jack and Harry. She also had a succession of faithful pet dogs in her life, among them Toper, Dougal, Mutt, Rowdy, Rose, and Maggie. Lois was born in Kincardine, Ontario but lived in Simpson, Saskatchewan until 1941 when the family moved a few miles up the road to Watrous. She graduated from high school in 1942 and then did two years of college and six weeks of Normal School in Regina. She taught two years in one-room country schools prior to attaining an Arts degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 1950. Lois then taught English in Vegreville for three years before returning to Saskatoon to complete her Education degree. She resumed teaching in Vegreville in 1955, married in 1956, and started her family in 1957. For the following two decades, she focussed on raising her five children. When the Vietnamese refugees came to Vegreville in 1979, she volunteered to teach them English and made many new friends. About the same time, she managed a stationery store at the Vegreville Observer. Lois was lucky to enjoy more than thirty years in retirement. She could often be seen riding her bike or taking one of her dogs for a walk. At Lois’ request, a private family service will be held at a later date. Cremation has taken place. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the “Edmonton Humane Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals” or to “Save the Children Canada.”