The family of Devina Jean Rycroft is relieved to announce that she is no longer saddled with the pain and debilitating effects of Multiple System Atrophy. While this rare, cruel disease finally took her body on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at the age of 81 years, there was no “battle.” Jean faced MSA and its inevitable conclusion as she had met any challenge or opportunity in her life with grace, dignity, and incredible strength.

Jean was born at Johanna Haakstad’s Maternity Home in Sexsmith, AB on August 13, 1942, and was proud to be one of “Jo’s babies.” The eldest of George and Nan Fraser’s six children, she enjoyed more indoor pursuits (like reading magazines), while her younger siblings Don, John, Nancy, Betty and Margaret completed the grunt work on the farm at Kleskun Lake. She attended Mount Star School and her intelligence (not just for getting out of farm work) was evident when she skipped grade four.

In the fall of 1955, Jean transferred to Sexsmith School and soon caught the eye of a duck-tailed, leather jacket-wearing bad boy named Bob Rycroft. In no time he was making the trek to the farm to take Jean (and her three younger sisters) on dates. Although Bob had some “rough edges,” Jean saw potential in him and together they built a life filled with the busyness of raising four active kids, travelling and an incredible amount of community involvement and volunteer work.

Jean loved to write and we are blessed to have countless journals where she perfectly articulated her emotions around family and community events. Her talents and love for others created cherished, often embellished, wedding and birth announcements in the local newspaper and interviews with local pioneers. She also used her wit and humour to write skits, songs, poems and sometimes outlandish entertainment that she could somehow persuade others to perform.

Jean’s love for the history of the area and its people, combined with her talent for writing, led to the publishing of three books, including “The Teepee Creek Terror,” a history of the Teepee Creek Stampede and the gargantuan, “Wagon Trails Grown Over,” that tells the stories of the people, events and organizations that influenced the creation of her beloved Sexsmith. Her passion and hard work with the Sexsmith and District Museum Society have literally shaped the landscape of Sexsmith with the creation of the historic downtown area and the relocation and restoration of many local buildings, including the blacksmith shop. She also served on the board and was Chair of the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation, which is instrumental in allocating funds for projects to preserve history across the province.

Jean had a natural ability to connect with people and make them feel seen and heard. That gift became a powerful tool to make a positive difference in the lives of others and her community. Bringing people together to volunteer, championing causes she cared about and uplifting those around her brought her joy. She spent countless hours volunteering for organizations and serving on boards in Sexsmith. Her love of her community and a genuine interest in helping others became a paying gig when she became the first Family and Community Support Services worker in Sexsmith and then moved to the County of Grande Prairie to be the Director of FCSS.

Although Jean usually liked having the last word, she went ahead to allow her husband Bob time to catch up. Her “Bobby” didn’t leave her side, and it was fitting that he was holding her hand and kissing her forehead when she took her last breath.

Left behind to endeavour to continue her legacy are her children: Bob (Lynn) Rycroft, Kim (Parker) Shultz, Stacy (Lyman) Rorem and Jason (Shawna) Rycroft; grandchildren: Maison and Jordan Rycroft, Hayden and Milan Shultz, Devyn (John) Rorem-Colquhoun, Annika and Isabelle Rorem and Fraser and Marin Rycroft who can only aspire to be half as brilliant as their mother and grandmother described them to be. She also leaves brother John (Sandy) Fraser; sisters Nancy (Greg) Rycroft and Margaret Thibault; sisters-in-law Florence Badger and Leona Fraser; brother-in-law Brian Rogers; numerous nieces, nephews, friends and the countless people who were impacted by her kindness.

Waiting to greet her are parents George and Nan Fraser, brother Don Fraser, sister Betty Rogers, niece Tanya Fraser; brothers-in-law Frank Thibault and Ivan Badger, best friend Betty-Lou Feeney (who she missed terribly) and many friends and family.

There will be a Celebration for Devina Jean on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 1:00pm at the Sexsmith Civic Centre (9929 100 St.). Guests are invited to wear tartan to celebrate her pride in being Scottish and dress like they are coming to a tea party (perhaps with a big hat), or wear whatever they want to. Come prepared to laugh a lot, cry a little and honour this amazing lady.

A Livestream of the service will be accessible 15 minutes prior to the service on Jean Rycroft’s obituary on Oliver’s Funeral Home website.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff on the second floor of Building B at Prairie Lake. Jean was loved and cared for like she was part of their family and you will all forever be a part of ours. Thank you to all of the family and friends who visited and inquired about her health everywhere we went and have reached out to all of us since her passing. We have been overwhelmed by your love, kindness and support.

Donations in her memory can be made to the Sexsmith and District Museum Society (sexsmithmuseum.com/donate-1), Defeat MSA Canada: Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) (canadahelps.org/en/charities/defeat-msa-multiple-system-atrophy-canada/?version=2) or a charity of your choice. But more important than money, we would love for everyone to share Jean’s kindness. The world seems a bit dimmer this week, but you can brighten it and carry on Jean’s legacy by sharing one of her big smiles with those you meet. Watch eyes light up, like Jean’s, when you take a genuine interest in what they have to say. They say that grief is the last act of love we give to our loved ones, and with great love comes great pain. But with the pain of Jean’s loss comes gratitude for the gift of time we had with her. We are all better people because she loved us.