PRIOR, (nee Jones), Dorothy Alexandra, B.Sc.H.Ec., B.Ed., M.Ed.

PRIOR, (nee Jones), Dorothy Alexandra, B.Sc.H.Ec., B.Ed., M.Ed.
August 2, 1939 – June 22, 2018

With great sadness the family of Dorothy Prior announces her death from heart failure and cancer at Strathmore, AB on June 22, 2018. Dorothy is survived by her devoted husband Gordon (still alive at 89!), son David (Tanya & Family), sister Gweneth, brother Donald, sister-in-law Shelly, last aunt Jean Hodgson*, several nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Dorothy was predeceased by: parents Reginald and Gladys Jones (nee Hodgson); parents-in-law, James and Doris Prior; brother Kenneth; sister-in-law Georgina; brother and sister-in-law Elwyn and Dorothea Foulkes; three step Jones siblings Everett (WWII), Evelyn and Robert who also served in WWII; Uncle Kenneth Hodgson (WWII) who served along with four of his brothers George, Harold, Maurice, and Stan; and all grandparents, aunts and uncles except *.
Dorothy was a loving mother, grandmother, wife of 56 years, farmer, sister, aunt, writer, and dedicated lifelong educator, who assisted young people, including children with learning challenges, through teaching and tutoring in small towns, Hutterite Colonies, Indigenous First Nations and cities in Saskatchewan and Alberta. In her youth, Dorothy was active in: athletics at school (esp. high jump) and in winter drove brothers to school with a horse and cutter in Torquay-Estevan area; sewing, baking, gardening, playing and teaching piano, playing organ at services for Netherhill Anglican Church; the 4-H grain club and public speaking (delegate to 1957 Toronto Royal Winter Fair from District 17) and finishing high school at McKenzie High in Kindersley. After Teachers’ College: Dorothy’s first position was principal of a one-room school (Grs. 1-12) with a fellow graduate at Bridgeford, SK. After marriage Dorothy: served her Lucky Lake-Demaine community on the Wheatland Library Board, in the “Busy Bees” group maintaining Sunkist Cemetery and organizing local events; returned to the U of S to study and convocate while farming with Gordon and raising David. Dorothy also established and operated a successful tutoring business for many years; worked with young people at Katimavik and developed curriculum for the FSIN. Dorothy’s dream was to run a Private School in Saskatchewan to assist all young people to create and achieve their goals and independence but alas, that was not meant to be.
An invitation will be published at a later date to a memorial gathering for family and friends to attend in Saskatoon to celebrate pleasant memories from Dorothy’s life. A private family interment will take place in the future.
Many thanks to Dr. David Piesas and all staff at Strathmore, Foothills, Rockyview, and Peter Lougheed Hospitals in Alberta for their excellent care and compassion in the past two years.