Tag: Jasper

Elsie was born in Pincher Creek. She was the youngest of six children of Harry and Catherine Annie Smith. She lived with her family on a ranch near Beauvais Lake (west of Pincher Creek). This ranch was homesteaded by her grandfather in the early 1900s. She and her sister Annie boarded at several places as there were no schools near their home.

She and her friend Jack Smith (son of Elmer and Emma Smith) started their courtship in 1946, which lasted six years until they married at Fort Macleod on Feb. 2, 1952. Their time together spanned an amazing 74 years and they never missed a Christmas together during that time.

Elsie was a kind, loving and generous person whose first love was family. She truly loved children and they loved her as well.

Donna is survived and sadly missed by her son, Greg (Stephanie), grandchildren Jordan and Brittany, sister Jane (Gerry Alex), and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Donna and Jim also welcomed two nephews, Bob and Rick Clazie, to live with them in Jasper as a part of their family for a number of years.

Donna was predeceased by her husband, Jim, parents Ed and Sadie Clazie, sister Loreen and brother Bill.

Donna was born and raised in Pincher Creek. She left home at 18 to train as a general and psychiatric nurse in a four-year diploma program at the Provincial Mental Hospital in Ponoka and the Calgary General Hospital. She graduated in 1954.

She worked at several locations in Alberta and British Columbia and in 1959 became an outpost nurse in Blue River, B.C. It was there she met her future husband, Jim Lane. They married in 1962 and moved to Jasper, where she continued to work as a nurse at the Seton Hospital.

Jim and Donna were both active members of the Lions Club for many years. They loved to travel and visit with friends and relatives. Donna, Jim and son Greg spent many happy years together in Jasper.

She will be fondly remembered for her kindness, sense of humour and caring attitude.

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