Doris Ileen (Mackrell) KENNON

It is with sadness the family of Doris Ileen Kennon announce her passing on September 16, 2022 at the age of 95 years.

Doris was born November 8, 1926, the sixth child born to Andrew and Margaret Mackrell. She grew up near her beloved coulees and Tramping Lake during the drought and depression of the 1930s. WWII marked her teens. She attended school at Toledo and Kerrobert before completing grade 12 in Dodsland. Doris went to Normal School in Saskatoon. She taught at Norris and Kingsland. While teaching at Kingsland, she met Alfred Kennon. They were married on December 24, 1947.

In 1951, Doris, Alf and Sherry moved to the Millerdale district where they farmed until they moved to Dodsland in 1975.

Three more children completed their family. Our house lacked electricity, central heating and plumbing. Mom baked our bread, sewed our clothes, cut our hair, tended the vegetable garden, raised chickens and turkeys and did a thousand other chores. She somehow found time to read stories, thread our needles, teach us to knit and when we were older, help us solve tricky algebra problems.

After Dad passed away, Mom continued to truck grain at harvest until she retired at 65.

In her retirement years, Doris was active in Senior Citizens and the Legion Auxiliary. She helped found the Dodsland Museum, taught herself to crochet, painted and made dozens of quilts. She and her friends enjoyed traveling around North America. When she was 80, she treated her three daughters to a visit to our ancestral homes in Ireland, Scotland and England.

Mom’s door was always open. In winter, her back porch was often full of hockey bags. Her tea parties were legendary and her grandchildren often brought friends for a cookie and a chat. In summer there were camping trips, swimming and berry picking expeditions. Her grandchildren all know that if they ventured too far out into the lake, they will find the drop off.

Declining health forced Mom to move to Pioneer’s Haven in September of 2021.

Doris was predeceased by her husband Alf, her parents, eight siblings and her granddaughter Heather. She is lovingly remembered by her children Sherry (Jim McDonald), Nora (Wendell Seime), Bill and Brenda Kennon, Ruth (Frank Srigley), 12 grandchildren, 28 great-great grandchildren, 4 great-great grandchildren, sisters-in-law Minnie, Ann and Betty Mackrell and many nieces, nephews and friends.

A Graveside Service will be held on Sunday, September 25, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. at the Dodsland Cemetery followed by a time of fellowship at the Dodsland Hall.