It is with great sadness we announce the passing of our mother, Joy Johnston on August 19, 2013 at Bastion Place in Salmon Arm, B.C. after a sudden illness.
Joy is survived by her five sons David, Lorne, Kent, Ewen (Sandy), Chris (Darcy); seven grandchildren (David) Lindsey, Mark, Troy, (Chris) Chelsey, Denton, (Ewen) Taylor, Angela; three great-grandchildren (David) Ethan, Marcus and (Chris) Kyran.
She was predeceased by her husband Lloyd (2011), her parents Dan and Irene MacLeod, and her three younger siblings Scott and Donald MacLeod and Janie Perger.
Joy was born in Summerside, Prince Edward Island and grew up in Stanley Bridge on the north central coast of P.E.I. Like many families of this time, there were struggles but Mom always valued her education and earned her teaching certificate in 1943. She began teaching in a one-room school house for grades 1 to 10 at the age of 17. She did this for several years until deciding to enroll in the registered nursing program at Charlottetown hospital. Graduating in 1950, she worked at the hospital there for three years. Always with a sense of adventure, at one point she planned to move to Bermuda with some nursing friends where they had job offers until she was asked to be a Ward Supervisor in Charlottetown. A couple of years later, Mom and a nursing friend did make the big move to the opposite side of the country to work in Pentiction, B.C. It was there that she met her husband Lloyd who was stationed there with the R.C.M.P. and became a patient of Mom’s. They were married in 1954.
Five boys came in quick succession along with numerous R.C.M.P transfers including Stewart, Chilliwack, Courtenay, Salmon Arm and Revelstoke. Many lifelong friends were met in her travels. Mom was actively involved in her kid’s lives and spent much of her time driving us to our sports events and other activities.
With their desire to return to Salmon Arm, Lloyd retired from the R.C.M.P. in 1971 and became the Personnel Manager at Federated Co-op. As her kids got older, Joy returned to some substitute teaching but mostly nursing which she loved. Eventually returning to full-time, it was said they had to “drag her out kicking and screaming” at her forced retirement in 1991. She was soon back at the hospital in 1996 when she helped organize the Hospital Greeters. She actively worked as a Greeter and helped coordinate this group until her illness.
Mom remained involved with many activities including the “Trekkers” walking group, dragon boating, Women’s Hospital Auxiliary, exercise groups and bridge clubs. Her active and healthy lifestyle made many people believe that she was at least 10 years younger. While particular about her appearance, what she valued most was the social interaction associated with her activities.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the “Lloyd and Joy Johnston Family Endowment” at the Shuswap Community Foundation (www.shuswapfoundation.ca), the Shuswap Hospital Foundation (www.shuswaphospitalfoundation.org) or a charity of your choice.
A Celebration of Life Service for Joy will be held at the First United Church, Salmon Arm, B.C. on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. A reception will follow in the Church hall.
Online condolences can be sent through Joy’s obituary at www.bowersfuneralservice.com