Grace Eleanor Johnston
April 15, 1930 ~ September 1, 2013
Grace was born to Albert and Frances Tedford on April 15, 1930. She began her journey in the small community of Huscroft until her family moved to Canyon. There Grace and her older sisters and brothers - Blanche, Marjorie, Kathleen, Clarence, Tommy, Albert and Lawrence enjoyed their younger years. Grace loved Canyon and often told stories of climbing to the lookout with her siblings, where “Sargent Pipe”, the lookout watchman, would provide them with cake or cookies before their decent down the mountain. The Canyon Park was another place Grace loved. This was a great meeting place for her and her friends and she often shared her stories of the fun they had there.
Grace was a keen athlete in her high school years. She was a member of the basketball team and played throughout the Kootenays. After late basketball trips the school bus would drop her off in Erickson and she would walk by herself, over the old Canyon Bridge to her home on 40th street in the dead of night. Grace also played baseball and was active in track and field winning awards for her accomplishments.
On April 17, 1950, Grace was wed to Lawrence Johnston. They built a house in Canyon and that is where their family grew. Their children are Cheryle Huscroft, Larry Johnston, Marlene Wingrove (Mark), Sharlene Vanak (Terry), Shane Johnston (Sharon). Grace has fifteen grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren.
As the children left the nest and her duties as mother slowed, Grace become involved in several organizations. She was an active member of the Legion ladies and Eastern Star. In the late 1970’s she tried her hand at politics and was voted in as Area Director for the Regional District of Central Kootenay. She also took on the new hobby of travelling and travelled around the world to places like Ireland, Japan and Australia to name a few. Grace was always up to the challenge should travel be mentioned.
Grace was predeceased by her husband Lawrence and her grandson Devin Wingrove. She was the last living of her siblings.
There will be a Celebration of Life for Grace at Canyon Park between 2:00 – 4:00 pm, Saturday, September 14, 2013.
Contributions in honor of Grace can be made to Swan Valley Lodge Equipment Fund, Box 1880, Creston, BC, V0B 1G0
Grace’s family would like to thank the staff of Swan Valley Lodge for the wonderful care Grace received. We will always be grateful.
We would also like to thank the volunteers of the Creston Valley Hospice Society for visiting mom and making her days a little brighter.