1933 – 2025

Janet died peacefully in Pincher Creek on April 1, 2025, having lived an exceptional life full of love, loss, laughter and tears on the ranch she treasured and worked hard to protect. During her life and in her death, she was surrounded by the family and friends she loved and who loved her.

Janet was the oldest surviving member of the McDowall family. She was born in Coleman, Alta., on May 16, 1933, the daughter of Ken and Ina McDowall.

Her childhood was often spent outdoors at the small family ranch named Windymere, learning how to harness a team of horses though they stood much taller than her, harrowing a field quickly so she could go to a dance, and making sure her younger siblings stayed out of trouble long enough to live and enjoy another day.

As an older child in a burgeoning ranch family, the words “I can’t” were not an option. That lesson stayed with her forever and is exemplified by the drive and resourcefulness she brought to her love of ranching and the land on which she worked.

Her grandfather, W.D. McDowall, had a garden and an extensive library. Through him, she developed her love of reading and her passion for flowers and gardening. Her grandchildren took great joy and pride in locating lemon lilies for her in the spring, tiger lilies in the summer, and always planted a tree in her yard to mark special occasions.

She read every day of her life and was a member of the Pages Book Club for many years. Her love of music and sense of gaiety and fun came naturally, along with a willingness to enter into high-hearted endeavours.

Her early education occurred at Coalfield School, a one-room school close to home. Every day, starting at age six, she rode her horse to school and back. Eventually, she attended high school in Pincher Creek. She rode her trusty steed Sally into town on Monday morning, sent Sally home with a slap on her rear, and then boarded in town until Friday night when her parents expected her to find a ride home for the weekend, sometimes with the postman.

After high school, Janet attended the University of Alberta, where she studied education. During the summers while at university she worked at the Prince of Wales Hotel and managed to hike many of the peaks in Waterton Park.

In August 1952, Janet married Bill Main, who had worked as the foreman of the Alberta Ranch. They moved to Drywood and bought their first 20 cows from Mr. Bennet at the Shodderee Ranch, who threw in a bull “for free.” In addition to her ranching duties, Janet taught school and saved her salary to buy land and expand the MX Ranch.

As Bill’s health declined, Janet took on responsibility for the ranch in partnership or with the assistance of her children over the years. Over time she expanded the MX Ranch, in conjunction with her son Mac and ranch partner Charles Straessle, to include the lease land held by the Burlington Northern Railway that is known locally as Christie Mine Ridge and was part of the original Alberta Ranch.

Janet knew animals and was known for her cattle-breeding savvy and her herd of mild-mannered, fast-growing animals. She took special delight when asked to be the only woman judge at select bull sales.

She lived in close association with wildlife and loved their presence, but was always respectful of their space — except that sometimes she needed to scoot a bear out of her precious garden with a broom, or to shoo a moose from her doorstep by fluttering her gown. She followed with great interest the lives of the many hummingbirds, hawks, and other birds and animals that chose to make her ranch their home, always knowing what critters were in her neck of the woods.

Her love for this particular corner of southern Alberta was unwavering. She was a founding member of the Southern Alberta Land Trust Society (SALTS), granted land conservation easements to the Nature Conservancy, and was a member of Diamond Willow organic beef organization.

Ranching in close proximity to the Shell Waterton Gas Plant (which arrived in 1962) forced Janet to become a determined advocate and tough negotiator to ensure that environmental damage to the MX Ranch was minimized by the industrial operation.

Every president of Shell Canada knew who she was, and many were on her speed-dial list, apprehensive to receive news of the latest environmental crisis on the ranch. In 2004, Janet settled her differences with Shell and she relocated the ranching headquarters to just off the Alberta Ranch Road.

Janet and Bill had several travel adventures, often escorted by her brother Stuart, a diplomat for the Canadian Foreign Service, along with his family. They travelled to faraway places in the Middle East, Turkey, Cuba and beyond. Later in life she travelled extensively with her grandchildren (upon their 15th birthdays) throughout Europe and North Africa.

Janet and Bill raised four children: Cas, Doug, Mac and Ian. She is survived by Doug (Anne Gover), Mac (Wendy) and Ian (Caroline Lee), and by Cas’s girls, Kyra Freeman (Mike Coons), Emma Freeman (Jesse Milner) and Sarah Freeman (Adam Pohl), together with Wyatt Main (Tabitha), Mickey Main (Amy Goulding), Alice Main (Jeff Sims) and Charlie Main.

Janet is survived by her younger siblings Stuart McDowall (Irene) and Mary Lou Campbell and their children and grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her other siblings, Mickey McDowall (Loretta) and Richard McDowall (Pauline).

Janet was a member of the Mountain Mill Church and the United Church of Pincher Creek.

Janet was perpetually generous, always offering tea or coffee to anyone who visited her doorstep, including strangers. If they lingered for too long they would be invited for a meal, and later offered a place to sleep. She fed people, entertained with her stories, and put every able-bodied person to work if there were ranch chores to be done. The door to her house was always open and never locked.

She was a friend to many, inclusive and generous to all, and will be dearly missed by those who knew her.

“If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” — Mother Teresa 

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Huntington Society of Canada.