Lillian Joan (Watson) Cameron

As Handwritten by Lillian Joan Cameron

Lillian Watson was raised on the farm in the Hindville district.  Her parents, David and Margaret Watson, were godly parents and welcomed with love, each child born to them.  Lillian was the seventh member of a family of eight, followed only by her brother, John.  He became her favourite childhood playmate.  They rode miles on stick horses.  He, in turn, played house with her.  She believed she had influenced him, as later in life, he became a good cook and operated restaurants.

When she was nearing her fourth birthday, her father passed away.  It was a great loss to the family!  Her mother’s faith was strong and her older brother, Frank, at fifteen, stepped into the breach, helping his mother carry on the farming and the raising of his younger siblings.

Music was a big part of life for the family as her mother had great talent in that direction, being the organist in the church.  She played the piano for concerts in which Lillian and her sisters took part, singing, dancing, reciting and play acting to raise money for the Red Cross during the Second World War.

After completing nine years of schooling at Watson and three years at Kitscoty High, Lillian enrolled in the Faculty of Education, U of A, in Edmonton.  Her first teaching position was two months at Kinnaird in the spring of 1949, followed by two years in McLaughlin Jr. Room and two years in Vermilion teaching Grade 3.

She was married in 1953 to Don Cameron, a farmer from Rivercourse, Alberta.  Sons David and Glen were born before she returned to teaching in 1957.  Again she spent five years at McLaughlin, teaching grades one to three.  Their son, Calvin, was born in 1963.  Besides caring for her family and preparing meals and lunches for the field, Lillian worked at Don’s side as a helpmate, doing any job necessary: changing cultivator shovels, cleaning drills, washing tractor windows, cleaning bins, sometimes handling the grain truck and drying grain in the busy harvest season.  Other times, she was the “gofer”, making trips to the welding shop or driving to Lloydminster for a much needed repair. 

The favourite leisure time activity for the family in summer was boating and waterskiing.  Everyone could be accommodated and have fun in the outdoors.  Often other families accompanied us and joined in the sport and the picnic which followed.

Having reached the age of ten, Calvin, in need of more effective medication and specialized training, was admitted to Michener Centre in March 1973.  This was a devastating time for the whole family!  Having no wish to disturb the routine which could make his training successful, as requested, they visited him only once a month.  They wanted to be sure he knew he was loved and that someone would always be back to see him.  While at home with us, Calvin had worn out every storybook his brothers had owned, so Lillian began recycling, making picture books to give him during visits and smaller ones to send by mail.

Lillian took an avid interest in her sons’ education, their sports and the friends they chose.  After David went off to the U of A and Glen to NAIT, Lillian and Don continue to support the Paradise Valley Jets, the team for which their sons had once played.  She made posters and served in the concession; he became one of the regular goal judges.

They met with three other couples who loved to play canasta, visiting in each other’s homes.  They took up ice fishing too, sometimes joining other friends who enjoyed the same sport.

Lillian bowled, painted with oils, golfed, and sang with an entertainment group who put on a grandstand show at the local fair.  She tried to hand at writing poetry as well as contributing to several history books.

In 1994, after a heart attack, Don sold the farm and they moved to English Estates in Lacombe to be nearer Calvin.  He had moved into a group home in December 1993, so now it was possible to have him home for a visit once a week.  They purchased a houseboat on Sylvan Lake where the family met in the summer.  Calvin, especially, enjoyed the excitement of sailing and communing with nature.  It was wonderfully peaceful most of the time!

When Lillian was invited by Betty Flewelling to join the “Kosy Korner Choir”, she was delighted.  She truly enjoyed singing at lodges, nursing homes and other entertainments while in the Lacombe area.

After twelve years in Lacombe, they pulled up stakes again.  This time moving into a condo in Red Deer.  Calvin was happy to have them closer.  He loved being able to visit them on Sunday, and loved looking down from the second floor at the birds, at the traffic and all the activity on the busy street. 

After Don’s passing in 2010, Lillian began filling her time by volunteering in Pastoral Care at the Red Deer Regional Hospital.  In 2015, she moved to Glastonbury Mews, a senior’s residence in Edmonton, Alberta, where she spent her remaining years.

Don and Lillian were always very dedicated to each other.  They loved their sons very much.  She was proud of each one and what they were able to accomplish.  Her only grandson, Mackenzie Cameron, was a great joy, a bright splash of colour to brighten her last years.

Left to mourn Lillian’s passing are her three sons, David (Maria) Cameron of Los Angeles, California, Glen Cameron of St. Albert, Alberta, and Calvin Cameron of Red Deer, Alberta; grandson, Mackenzie Cameron of St. Albert, Alberta; sister, Edith Fay Martin; brother, John (Elsie) Watson; brother-in-law, Bill Bissonette; many nieces and nephews and many many dear friends.

Lillian was predeceased by her loving husband, Don in 2010; father, David Watson in 1934; mother, Margaret Watson in 1977; brother, Frank Watson in 1993; sisters, Dorothy in 1951, Catherine Laboucane in 2006, Mary Clark in 2007 and Mabel Bissonette in 2002; brothers-in-law, Jeff Martin, Clarence Laboucane, Guy Whitlock and William Clark.

A Funeral Service for Lillian will be held at Wilson’s Funeral Chapel, 6120 Hwy 2A, Lacombe AB on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 at 1:00 p.m.

In honour of Lillian’s memory, memorial donations may be directed to the "Paradise Valley Climb Thru Time Museum", Box 27, Paradise Valley, AB T0B 3R0

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