Margaret Dawn Goddard (nee Spencer)
July 12, 1931 ~ August 15 2014
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dawn Goddard. She passed quietly surrounded by her family and the wonderful staff of Swan Valley Lodge.
Dawn was born in Nelson, BC to James and Dorothy Spencer. She left in 1949 to study nursing at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, BC. That is where she met a saucy sailor named Ralph and they were married in November 1952, shortly after her graduation as an R.N.
Their first daughter, Nuese Gail was born in Victoria, their second daughter Tanis Joan was born in Port Alberni and their son Garth Spencer was born in Edmonton. Ralph had promised Dawn that they would see the world, but they didn’t get very far! Dawn followed Ralph to four postings - Edmonton, Portage la Prairie, Bordon, and back to Edmonton. She worked as a nurse in Edmonton and was the head nurse at the Portage General Hospital from 1968 to 1971. In 1978, she taught herself to type, and worked for four years as an executive assistant for the Post Office in Edmonton. When they were getting ready to retire, Dawn said she wanted to be back in her mountains, so they chose the Kootenays and moved there in 1992. They had eight wonderful years on the lake before they moved into Creston. Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2000 and moved into Swan Valley in 2008.
Dawn was predeceased by her husband Ralph, son Garth and brother Leigh.
She is survived by her brother Philip (Judy); daughters Nuese (Don) and Tanis (Ken); daughter-in-law, Sheila (Garth); and five grandchildren, Matthew, Evan, Nikayla, Carson and Jessey. She has numerous nieces and nephews as well.
A Celebration of Life will be held soon. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada would be appreciated.