On Monday, September 14, 2020, Doris Tansem, resident of Wild Rose Manor in Grande Prairie, AB, formerly of Wanham, AB, passed away peacefully at the age of 95, at the QEII Hospital, with her daughter and minister by her side.

Mom (Doris) was born in Edmonton, AB on July 18, 1925 to Emily and Edward Williams. She was the youngest of three children. Mom showed collies with her dad and won a cup, a plaque, and many ribbons when she was a young child. Our family dogs were mostly collies until their last dog, Milo, a sheltie.

She loved school so much that, in Grade 2, she wrote that she wanted to become a teacher and never changed her mind; she taught for 28 years. She loved it when someone would stop to say hello and tell her she had taught them Grade 2. She usually recognized them and said, “Yes I did!”

She met Dad when two of her friends wanted to come to the Peace Country to teach. The school was looking for three teachers, so they talked Mom into coming along. The two friends went back to Edmonton the following year, but Mom had met Dad and wrote in a keepsake memory book “The rest is history”.

Mom and Dad raised their family in Wanham until moving to Grande Prairie. Spending time with family always brought her so much joy. Mom kept busy with church, Monday morning coffee, and Friday hair appointments. Her great-grandchildren joining her for lunch or playing BINGO at Wild Rose was always special.

Mom always said, “I don’t regret ever traveling, we had so much fun, such great memories”. We often heard the story of their trip to Ruthin Castle in Wales and visiting Green Gables in PEI.

She is survived by her three children:

Daughter Carol (Brian Perry/deceased); grandson Cameron (Robin) Spry and great-grandsons Conner and Owen; granddaughter Lesley (Andy) Shandro and great-grandchildren: Damon, Kyley (Michael), Cole and Natalya; granddaughter Jasmine (Darcy) Gladue Sr. and great-grandchildren: Janelle, Terrence, Kendra, Raymond and Darcy Jr.

Daughter Brenda (Raymond) LaCroix of Grande Prairie; grandson Ryan (Nadine) LaCroix and great-grandchildren Sophia and Holden; grandson Brent LaCroix (Eryn); granddaughter Courtney (Kyle) Rombs and great-grandchildren: Jack, Gracie, Hadleigh and Tucker.

Daughter Kelly (Randy) Beauchamp and grandson Zane.

Mom is also survived by her sister in-law Helen (Elfred/deceased) Williams of Aldergrove, as well as many wonderful nieces, nephews and their families.

She was predeceased by her husband Wally, parents Emily and Edward, parents in-law Peter and Minnie Tansem, sister Gwen (Jack) Herbison, brother Elfred, Jasmine’s infant son Peter Spry Papestesis Jr., as well as many brothers and sisters in-law.

Knox Presbyterian Church in Wanham and Forbes Presbyterian Church in Grande Prairie were special to Mom. She wrote “Live a good life, keep your faith, you will understand why when you are much older.” We would like to thank everyone at Wild Rose Manor. Mom truly enjoyed her time there; the Staff were amazing. We would also like to thank the doctors and nurses at the QEII Hospital that took such good care of Mom.

Due to Covid-19 a private service will be held. A livestream of the service will be available through Oliver’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/olivers.funeral.home/

Memorial donations may be made to Forbes Presbyterian Church (9635 76 Ave., Grande Prairie, AB, T8V 5B3).