October 11, 1946 - April 4, 2023
In loving memory ~
After a brave battle with Cancer, Joy Lorraine (Jackson) McGill shed her earthly pain surrounded by her treasured family and the love she had nurtured all her life.
Lorraine was born to the late Hugh and Ruth (Yeamans) Jackson in Souris MB, with older brothers Don Jackson (Souris, MB) and Doug Jackson (Hillsburgh, ON). Doug sadly passed away just days after his sister.
Lorraine was a beloved wife to husband Doug McGill, Mother to children Tamara McGill (Kevin Friesen)), Allison Butenschon (Sven Butenschon), Lee McGill, Kate McGill, and grandmother to Magnus and Layla Butenschon, Kaylin Hall and Chloe and Maddox McGill.
She was raised in a farming community with parents who instilled generosity of spirit, integrity, resourcefulness, and unwavering determination. She demonstrated those values in everything she did. A creative visionary, she fearlessly manifested dreams and ideas throughout her entire life.
Her early adult life saw her moving to Toronto and Montreal to pursue her love of music. A gifted singer, she recorded songs with her folk band, The Other Day. A beauty and a talent, she was crowned Miss Manitoba 1965. She went on to compete in the Miss Canada pageant and won the talent event, singing on national television.
After returning to Manitoba, she met and married Doug and started a family in Brandon, MB. They soon moved to a farm outside of Souris (Carroll) where Lorraine, bred, raised, and raced Thoroughbred horses. Lorraine had initiated this venture during her teen years when she purchased a Thoroughbred brood mare, and a family business was born. Horses were yet another passion she excelled at, having many multiple stakes winners, and winning many awards, but her crowning achievement was being the breeder of the 1976 Manitoba Derby champion. She shared her love of horses with her children who learned to ride and who have deep appreciation for all their farm life experiences to this day.
In 1999 Doug and Lorraine moved to Red Deer, Alberta and soon after made their home in neighbouring Sylvan Lake. It was there that Lorraine's lifelong interest in design and architecture came to life and they started Tehama Homes, a custom home building business. With her extraordinary creative ability and business sense Lorraine soon had a bigger dream; one that she knew would become an invaluable asset to the Sylvan Lake community. She designed and realized the nature-based, residential, and commercial development, Sixty West. She dedicated everything to the creation and building of this community. It's beauty and existence will be her legacy in perpetuity.
Family was most important to Lorraine, especially her children. She was her kids' biggest champion and supported their every dream and endeavor, no matter where it took them. A devoted Grandmother (Nanna) to Magnus, Layla, Kaylin, Chloe, and Maddox, and so proud of each of them. Lorraine adored and looked up to her brothers, she was beloved by Nieces and Nephews and cherished by all.
Married for 52 years, Lorraine was a constant inspiration to her husband, Doug. Partners in every way, to him she was the ultimate lover of life and adventure, a believer in miracles and the fulfiller of dreams. She loved exploring coast lines, mountain ranges and vast prairies with him and she sought new landscapes, new inspiration, and new ideas at every turn in the road.
Lorraine was a seeker of spiritual growth throughout her life, with strong faith, and was a true compass to all who connected with her. She was a strong supporter of women in business and to her, "no" simply meant finding new pathways. She looked for both the light and the lesson in every situation life brought her way. Lorraine will be deeply missed by all whose lives she touched. She saw magnificence in places overlooked and brought beauty into everything she did. She freely shared her experiences, her joys, and her love. She loved to find the humour in all of life's moments and treasured her lifelong friendships with those who never stopped laughing with her. A loyal and kind friend, a bright loving soul and a force of nature, Lorraine is now on a journey to shores we cannot see. At peace today and forever, she is free.
Lorraine's family will be holding a celebration of her life in the near future; the date is to be announced. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society.