Elliott Family

Retrieved from The Mountaineer - Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, Canada on August 3, 2010
© 2007 The Mountaineer Publishing Company Limited.

Kathleen Elliott
August 7, 1912 – July 20, 2010

Kathleen Violet Elliott of Rocky Mountain House, Alberta passed away on July 20, 2010, in Red Deer at the age of 97 years.

She was born and raised in London, England on August 7, 1912.

As an adult Kathleen worked for a lawyer as a legal stenographer. During WWII she volunteered for the USA where she met John. They married in 1946 and lived in England for a year before moving to Canada in 1947. John went straight into forestry. Kathleen lived with the Elliott relatives for a while before joining John at the forestry station in short order.

Not knowing how to cook or bake Kathleen hiked to the neighbouring lumber camp to take lessons from the cook there. In 1949 she became an instant parent to two pre-teens and one teenager. With that came some challenges of living in the backcountry and making sure correspondence was done by the kids as well as the chores and paperwork of a wife of a forestry officer.

During their time in forestry they began raising St. Bernard dogs and eventually Samoyeds. They showed, did dog sled racing, raised and sold puppies. There were always pictures and trophies around the house showing her pride in their accomplishments. After several moves with forestry their last posting was the upper Saskatchewan west of Rocky.

In 1965 John and Kathleen moved to Rocky and started a greenhouse, florist and market garden. Kathleen worked side-by-side with John making it a successful business. They retired from this in 1985 after 20 years. In 1976 Kathleen got her learner's license, finally getting her driver's in 1989 when John's health was failing. He passed away in 1991.

Kathleen was a long-time member of the Legion Ladies Auxiliary, the Eastern Star and Canadian Kennel Club. She also joined the Rocky Hospital Auxiliary, Friends of the Park (Confluence Heritage Society, Friends of the Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site), Elliott Clan, Pioneer Centre, Rocky Mountain House Museum, and Memorial Presbyterian Church.

In 2000 Kathleen moved into town. She worked in the little flowerbeds, keeping them immaculate, winning the best pocket garden one year. She was proud of the flowers and tomatoes she grew at the condo unit.

Kathleen adopted a few families with whom she spent holiday dinners and other special occasions. It was due to these friends and many others as well as neighbours that Kathleen was able to stay in her own home. Although the last eight months were very difficult the support of these friends and neighbours helped to keep her safe until she was hospitalized in December 2008, moving to the Red Deer Nursing Home in February 2009 until her passing.

She is survived by her step-daughter Ruby Coulson; daughter-in-law Irene Elliott; two nephews and one cousin in England; grandchildren Fred and Gordon Coulson, John and Suzanne Elliott, Kate Pottinger, Heather Elliott, Lynn Hannah and Robert Elliott; nine great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; extended family Janice Waite and Lloyd Cadrain and their children Joseph and Krista; Margaret and Ray Coderre and their children Richard, Heather and granddaughter Rayne. Connie deBoer and her children Eric, Carl and Anna Lisa. 

A Celebration of Kathleen Elliott's Life will be held at Memorial Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, July 28, 2010, at 1:30 p.m. with Laurie Wade officiating.

As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be made in Kathleen's memory to the charity of the donor's choice.

Rocky and Sylvan Lake Funeral Homes and Crematorium, your Golden Rule Funeral Homes, entrusted with the arrangements.