Jean Alvina (McDougall) Ernest

Jean Alvina Ernest (nee McDougall)

born March 7, 1932; Died January 6, 2021

It is with great sadness the family announces Jean Ernest of Lacombe passed away after a very brief illness on January 6, 2021 at the age of 88.

Jean was born March 7, 1932 in Lacombe, AB. She was the youngest of four children and felt lucky to have such caring and protective big brothers. In her early years she worked as a stenographer at the Lacombe Experimental Station and the Lacombe Creamery. She met her husband, Emanuel ‘Smokey’ Ernest who was working on the oil rigs and married in 1953. Jean and Smokey lived wherever the rig was for many years. They also spent some time overseas to work. In 1977, they built a house on an acreage just outside of Lacombe. Once Smokey retired, they enjoyed time fishing and camping in their motorhome. They moved to Lacombe in 2012.

Jean was always an incredibly positive person, with a great sense of humour. She had rheumatoid arthritis but never complained and managed the household very well. Jean dedicated her life to Smokey, and her love and determination was evident especially through his increasing dementia over the past few years. They were married for 67 years and, since his passing in April 2020, she missed him terribly. Jean never wanted to be a burden to anyone, but a very loving and compassionate community of friends supported them both. It was very comforting to the family to know they were so well cared for in their neighbourhood. Jean’s passing was a surprise to us all. She will be greatly missed by her family and many close friends, including Smokey’s nephew, Ron Driol, in BC.

Jean is survived by her niece Pam Pritchard (Rob), and nephews David McDougall (Cheryl) and Scott McDougall (Julie) and their families as well as many of Smokey’s family.
Jean was predeceased by her loving husband, Emanuel ‘Smokey’, and her brothers and sisters-in-law Don (Jean), Wayne (Sheila) and Ken ‘Bud’ (Phyllis) and her parents, Florence and Ken McDougall as well as many of her in-laws.

Due to COVID restrictions, no service will be held.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Central Alberta Humane Society, https://cahumane.com/support/make-a-donation or to Lacombe Health Trust, PO Box 5663, Lacombe, T4L 1X3, http://lacombehealthtrust.com. 

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