Obituary of Jean McCardle Johnston DOUGLAS

Jean McCardle Johnston Douglas

March, 28 1933 – January 1, 2023

Jean McCardle Johnston Douglas (née McKinstray), 89, of Orangeville, Ontario, passed away peacefully in a hospital surrounded by her family on January 1, 2023.

Jean was born on March 28, 1933, to Mary and James McKinstray in Ayr, Scotland, alongside her younger sister Anne (Suzanne) and many cousins.

Jean excelled in her schooling and later worked at Hannah Dairy Research Foundation as a lab technician. Jean met Ronald Douglas of Lochmaben at an Ayr dance hall. They married four years later. Together they welcomed a son and daughter – Neil and Rona. In 1968 Jean and her family followed Ron to his new engineering position in Sudbury, Ontario. There, they welcomed another daughter Alison and moved shortly after to Orangeville.

A full-time mother who worked at the Orangeville Citizen and Cable-Vu, Jean then held positions within Education for the rest of her working life. In the Georgian College satellite office in Orangeville, the Dufferin Board of Education at ODSS and the Grant Evans Centre within the transportation department.

Jean was a champion of the arts who made it clear to her children that art, music and creativity were the things that made life worth living. Jean was an early member of the Orangeville Art Group, where she was involved in several exhibitions and participated in many drawing and painting workshops.

Outwardly Jean was gracious, kind, well-spoken, unassuming and shy, but with family and friends, she was funny, gregarious, empathetic, and caring – working tirelessly for her husband and children.

After retirement, Jean enjoyed many years of travel with her husband, Ron. She then heartfully embraced her five grandchildren: Bryn, Sean, Elise, Miriam and Ethan, who she adored.

Jean is survived by her devoted husband, Ron, and loving children, Neil, Rona and Alison. Her daughter-in-law, Adina, and son-in-law, John. Her sweet sister Anne, her niece Wendy and husband, Stuart (children Kirsty and Michael), her nephew Iain and wife Melanie (children Jake, Ben and Sophie), and a host of cousins, grand and great-grand nieces and nephews in the UK.

In her later years, Jean fiercely loved her husband and growing family. We will miss her dearly and always.

Please join our family to Celebrate the Life of Jean Douglas on Sunday, April 2nd at The Pond Gallery in the Alton Mill Arts Centre from 2-4pm, with a video presentation and Words of Remembrance for Jean to begin at 3pm.  (Alton Mill Arts Centre - 1402 Queen St. West, Alton, ON. www.altonmill.ca).

Enjoy a traditional British afternoon tea service with scones, jam, sandwiches and desserts as we reminisce fondly of Jean's warmth, sense of humour and life accomplishments.

In place of flowers, please donate to The Myasthenia Gravis Society of Canada: https://mgcanada.org/donate/.

Online condolences may be made at www.imfunerals.com 

In Memoriam Funeral Services Inc. has been given the honour to serve the Douglas Family