January 8, 1941 – February 13, 2024
It is with heavy hearts that we share that our beautiful mother, Ann Jackson (Haughn) passed away on Tuesday, February 13, 2024. Mom was born in Cold Lake, AB where she was raised with her sister Karen. In her younger years Mom played ball as a back catcher competitively, their team was very successful. Mom was also known as a real prankster, especially to her cousin Wilson. Mom married Ernest Keast who tragically died in a car accident early on in their marriage and later married Austin “Red” Haughn. Mom started her life in Cold Lake Alberta, moving to Hinton, Alberta, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan then Edmonton and later to Legal, Alberta where she bought her acreage. God blessed us (Mona, Ernie, Andrea and Tracy) with the gift of having Ann as our Mother, she taught us so many valuable lessons throughout her life and ours. Through the years Mom had various careers ranging from night auditor to bookkeeper and many in-between. Always working, always moving up and onward, sometimes holding two jobs at the same time. Mom’s work ethic was second to none, a trait which she instilled in all of us. There was no quit in her. Mom’s love of family and friends always came first. Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were her pride and joy and she loved hearing about all the silly stories that came along with each and every one of them. Mom also loved all the cute stories that Andy would share, it was like her very own version of “Kids Say the Darndest Things” where she was front and centre. Mom’s heart was always the fullest when her kids were united, and she was surrounded by family. Mom had an infectious sense of humor, and her laugh was contagious. Mom loved dancing and the old country music, especially Kenny Rogers. She had a passion for reading which she passed on to all of us as well as a creative side which came out in various forms. If there was any type of craft project, you could count Mom in to participate. Mom loved to play any board game and all card games. Mom loved to do puzzles, play games and “paint” on her ipad. We were quite impressed that she ventured into the tech world – even if those adventures meant there were quite a few I.T. calls made to Mona and Greg. Mom loved going to the cottage at Dore Lake where she would spend countless hours visiting and socializing with all her lifelong friends and absolutely loved a fresh fish fry. Mom also loved her acreage outside of Legal where she loved and thrived with the rural way of life. Our Mom loved flowers, all flowers, the brighter the better. Mom also loved anything homemade including all the canning, preserves and meals that Ernie would make for her, she had her own personal restaurant, which just happened to serve all of her favorite menu items. Mom enjoyed any and all of the sweets and treats which we made for her. Mom was a fantastic cook and loved to be in the kitchen. Her cooking skills were incredible – her clean up in the kitchen talents, not so much, that’s what we were there for. “Whoever did the cooking, didn’t do the cleaning”. Mom really enjoyed the homemade bread and buns that Tracy would bring or have ready for her on the visits, her own personal bakery. Mom passed on her love of cooking to all of us which is so incredible where we all still
exchange recipes. Mom loved curling! All of us have so many memories of Mom curling in the ladies curling club. The curling bonspiels were legendary and as children, we spent a lot of time in curling rinks cheering her on. We could always count on Mom losing her voice after a bonspiel, with her being skip of her team and calling the shots loud and clear. After Mom “retired” from curling, you had to time your phone calls to her during the winter months so that you could get her undivided attention during curling season. In Mom’s later years she became a real fashionista and loved everything to match. She also loved having her nails done and they were always so beautiful. Mom would not leave home without her makeup on either. Mom was such a compassionate person to her friends and family, she genuinely cared about all and inquired about everyone always. Some might call it nosy (not us of course – at least not within hearing distance), we knew she preferred the terminology of caring and concerned, which she really was, she had the biggest heart. Mom was so fun to tease; she gave as good as she got back. In the last few years, Mom struggled with health issues and the Doctors would call the family in, only to have Mom rally and tell those same Doctors that “she was not ready to go”, she was a fierce warrior right to the end. With Mom’s grit and determination, she was fighting every day and eventually, God recognized how tired she was and He called her home so that she could finally be at rest.
Mom is survived by her four children; daughter Mona (Greg) Fairless, Johnathan Fairless (Liam), Melina (Sean) Eide (Kinley); son Ernest (Ernie) Keast (Oaklynn, Cimarron and Cheyenne), Amanda (Matt) Rimes (William), Andrew Haughn; daughter Andrea Haughn, Brittany (Nathan) Nicolas (Theo, Grace and Ozzie), Katherine (Norm) Wiens (Emry and Maddie), Jacy (Chris) Braaten (Kyan, Jake and Isaac); daughter Tracy (Todd) Ruszkowski, Vince (Desiree) Ruszkowski (Viktor and Ila), Landon (Alannah) Ruszkowski (Natalia and Aria). Her sister, Karen (Hank) Lemky and their son, Ward (Josie) Lemky (Andrew and Charlotte), and their daughter Kim Lemky (Savannah and Keats). Mom was predeceased by her parents Wilson and Margaret Jackson, her infant brother, Wilson Jr Jackson and her husband, Ernest Keast. Mom was very blessed in all the care that Ernie gave her while she lived on her acreage as well as how Mona took her to her many medical appointments, nail appointments, lunch dates and was her chauffer in the later years. We also want to thank Greg for stepping up when Mona was unable to take Mom. We want to thank you for all that you did. We would like to thank the Chateau Sturgeon Lodge in Legal for all the care they provided Mom as well as the residents who welcomed her with open arms and gave her such a sense of community, she treasured each and everyone of you and you all hold a special place in our hearts for being there for our Mom when we couldn’t be. We are forever grateful to you all. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in memory of Ann to the Sandra Schmirler Foundation for premature and sick babies.
Celebration of Life
Saturday, April 20, 2024
at 2:00 pm
Club 60 Roses
4840 50 Avenue
Legal, Alberta
