Doris Marie McFarlane, resident of Beaverlodge, AB, passed away on Wednesday, October 13, 2021, at the age of 98 years.

Doris was born on November 27, 1922, in Danvers, Digby County, NS, she was the daughter of Harry Clay Lewis and Francis “Fanny” Alice Lewis (nee Sabean). Doris was one of ten siblings, and is survived by her younger sister Verna Sabine, of Riverdale, NS.

Doris entered nursing school and trained from 1943-194 in Yarmouth, NS, and later in Montreal, QB, which provided a broader range of education in obstetrics and infectious diseases. She began nursing in Yarmouth at the start of the polio epidemic, doing night shifts and cleaning. After two years, she accepted a position in Beaverlodge under head nurse Muriel McRae, whom she had met during training in Montreal. After a week-long train journey, including getting stranded in Leduc, AB, by a blizzard, she arrived in Beaverlodge on March 1, 1948. There she met Doug McFarlane. Doris and Doug were married on October 8, 1949, in the Beaverlodge United Church. Doris finished work at 4 pm, changed her clothes, and walked three blocks from the hospital to the church for the wedding. In October 1950, her son Jaimie “Jim”, was born, and the following October, her son Lewis was born.

Doris was very active in the community. She volunteered as the nurse at the Red Willow Camp and expanded her duties by taking swimming lessons in Grande Prairie, AB, so she could also teach the kids to swim. On July 1st, you would find her at the Rio Grande Stampede, flipping burgers to raise money for the community. After her boys grew up, she worked with the Victorian Order of Nursing, providing medical care in the community.

The arts were always important to Doris. She regularly hosted what she liked to call “pot parties” at her home for potter John Wilson. She enjoyed a lifelong friendship with the McNaughts, and many trips taken together were recorded by sketches done by Euphemia (Betty) McNaught. Throughout their marriage, Doris and Doug collected art by many artists of the Peace.

In the late 1980’s, a new hospital was planned for Beaverlodge. Doris and several others cajoled the Town into donating a building lot and had the old hospital moved close to the highway. She was instrumental in founding The Beaverlodge Arts and Cultural Centre, which occupies this wonderful old building, and served as the Board chair for twenty years. Even in the last year of her life, she was keenly interested in the latest art show at the Centre.

About ten years ago, Doris donated a large parcel of land to the Town for a new hospital. Through many visits by Government ministers and officials, Doris held out hope that she would see the start of construction. This October, the day after Doris passed away, the Town announced a public private partnership to build a new health complex. We like to think that Doris is keeping an eye on the project from above.

In 2011, Doris and Beaverlodge were selected as one of two winners of the United Farmers of Alberta Small Town Heroes contest. The country singer Paul Brandt came to Beaverlodge and performed in the local arena to help raise funds. In her acceptance speech that night, Doris acknowledged that she had helped to deliver many of those in the audience and apologized to any she had accidentally dropped on their heads. As a result of the efforts of Doris and many others, a new recreation centre, including an indoor pool, was built.

Doris returned often to visit her family in Nova Scotia. She chaperoned school trips to Montreal for EXPO 1967, and a KonTiki Europe tour. In 1989 Doris and Doug took a road trip to Alaska, with son Lewis and his family, following the same route Doris and Doug had taken for their honeymoon in 1949. After Doug’s passing in 1989, Doris cruised the MacKenzie River, sailed in the Caribbean, visited Heron Island in Australia, and cruised the coast of BC, and made more road trips to Nova Scotia. Doris is survived by her son Jim and his wife Judy, of Vancouver BC, their three children, David and Kelsey in Langley BC, John and Hannah in Vancouver BC, and Kathleen and Nolan, in New York City; her son Lewis and his wife Audrey in Victoria, BC, their two children Stacy and her fiancé, Kyle Olsen in Calgary, AB, and Greg and Heather in Victoria BC. She is also survived by Bill McFarlane and his wife Karen, of Okotoks, AB, and their sons Jayson and Trevor and their families.

Cremation has taken place and Doris has been interred in the Beaverlodge Cemetery. Throughout her life, Doris lived by the following creed:

There is a destiny which makes us brothers; none goes his way alone.

All that we put into the lives of others comes back into our own. - Edwin Markham

Memorial Donations in Doris’ name may be made to the Town of Beaverlodge - Health Complex Fund (1016 4 Ave., Beaverlodge, AB, T0H 0C0), or to the Beaverlodge Area and Cultural Society (Box 569, Beaverlodge, AB, T0H 0C0).

Doris’ family would like to express their appreciation to everyone who has sent condolences. She will be in our hearts forever.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, July 9, 2022 from 1pm-3pm at the McFarlane home: 129-11th Avenue, Beaverlodge, Alberta