1925 – 2022
Mrs. Doris Eileen Whitehead passed away peacefully at the Bethany CollegeSide, Red Deer, Alberta on Saturday, January 22, 2022 at the age of 96 years.
Doris was born on July 14, 1925 at Carstairs, Alberta to Jack and Grace Hall. She was the fifth of seven siblings, Laura, Stuart, Edythe, Kathleen, Doris, Robert and Jerry. In 1934, the Depression forced the family to move and homestead in the Crammond district south of Caroline, Alberta. Doris attended the Crammond School until Grade Nine, and then to Caroline for one year. There were not enough students there, so the school ended up closing. She then went to school in Dickson, Alberta for Grades Eleven and Twelve.
There, she stayed at the Herby and Emma Westergaard Farm and worked for room and board. Doris graduated Grade Twelve in 1943. Due to the War, there was a shortage of teachers, so she went back to school in August and graduated November first. She was sent immediately to begin teaching at Rimbey, James River, Beiseker, Stauffer, Rosebud and finally Red Deer North and Central Schools.
Doris married Lester ‘Ted’ Whitehead on December 15, 1952. After a few years, they settled on a farm in the Aberdeen district east of Innisfail. Chickens, cows, gardening, and four boys kept everyone busy. Doris also worked at Bowden Nurseries for a few seasons and made many friends there. Ted passed away in 1984 and Doris stayed on the farm. She was involved with everything she could be; the Aberdeen Ladies Club, the Food Bank, Drop-In Centres, kitchen band and various bus trips. There were also trips taken with her sisters, Laura, Edythe and sister-in-law, Margaret Hall out to Vancouver, British Columbia, to see their sister, Kathleen.
Eventually, Doris moved into Innisfail at the Autumn Glen Lodge. She loved playing cards at the Drop-In. At 95 years, she was still able to walk from the Lodge to downtown and back. Doris has left us with a treasure trove of memories of homemade cookies and buns, playing the piano and accordion, Saturday morning coffee at A&W and teaching the grandkids how to play crib. There was thirty-five years of an annual Family Fish Derby at the farm; where she made the green jellied salad that nobody really liked but she made it anyway. She was always positive, never complained and taught her family to make do with what you had. Doris will be lovingly remembered by her four boys, Ken (Phyllis), Ed (Carol), David (Wendy) and Grant (Cheryl), her brother, Jerry Hall (Margaret) of Calgary, Alberta; as well as her nine grandchildren and her fourteen great grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her husband, Ted, her sisters, Laura, Edythe and Kathleen and her brothers, Stuart and Robert.
A Private Family Graveside was held at the Innisfail Cemetery, Innisfail, Alberta. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed at www.heartlandfuneralservices.com. Arrangements in care of: Heartland Funeral Services Ltd. 4415 – 49 Street, Innisfail, Alberta. Phone: 403.227.0006 Fax: 403.227.6437
