Obituary of May Howard

The family announces with sadness the passing of Maizie Howard on December 4th, 2015. Maizie was born, at home, on May 20, 1925 near Blaine Lake, SK. to pioneer parents William and Agnes Johnston. She passed away, at home, in Saskatoon, surrounded by her loving family. Maizie obtained her elementary and high school education in Blaine Lake and studied accounting at the University of Saskatchewan. She was employed in the accounting department of Royalite Oil (later Imperial Oil) in Calgary, AB. Upon her return to Saskatoon, on a one year leave of absence to care for her parents, she met and married Wilfred Sterling (Pat) Howard. Together Wilf and Maizie raised five children and encouraged them all in education, their careers, music and sports. They farmed and raised purebred Hereford cattle near Harris, SK., while maintaining their primary residence in Saskatoon. Mom was an avid curler. She won the 1954 Saskatchewan Provincial Ladies Curling Championship and represented the province at the British Empire Games in Vancouver, BC. She was also the 1986 Provincial Senior Ladies Curling Championship runner-up. Most of all, Mom enjoyed curling with her husband and children at the Nutana Curling Club (Ladies Past President) and the Granite Curling Club. Maizie participated in skiing and bowling in her earlier days in Calgary. Mom enjoyed fishing, traveling, Turner Classic Movies, coaching curling (particularly her daughter’s curling teams), instructing Sunday school at Grosvenor Park United Church, being a member of the Council of Women, and being a lifelong pet/dog lover to Jockey, Toby, Muffy, Bear, Heidi, AJ, Abbey and Olivia. Mom could bring a smile to family and strangers alike with her quick wit and sense of humor. Mom was predeceased by her husband Wilf (July 18, 1979); her parents William and Agnes Johnston; her sisters Lillian Ryan (Art), Olive Moore (Tom), Ina Mudge (Jack), Sybil Morton (Don); her brothers Bill Dowling, Jack Johnston; her brothers in-law Ken Oliver, Stan Howard (Ruth), Dr. David“Red” Howard (Helen); her sister in-law Neta Engers (Don); and her in-laws William and Margaret Howard. Maizie is lovingly remembered and survived by her daughters HEATHER and GAYLE; her sons GLENN (Denise)-Cole and Alison Howard and Ashley and Jace Nelson; FLOYD (Lois)-Reid, Maegan and Brett Howard; HUGH; her sister Grace Oliver and by numerous nieces and nephews. The family wishes to thank many people for the excellent care that their Mother received, particularly in the last six months, including the entire staff at City Hospital 6200 Ward, Dr. Meredith McKague and her team, the Saskatoon Health Region DCF and Palliative Care nurses and the wonderful caregivers from LutherCare. Mom appreciated all those on “her health care team,” and with the devoted care of her daughters, was able to return home, as she wished. Memorial donations may be made to a charity of one’s choice.