It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Mr. Gordon Armstrong at the Innisfail Health Center, Innisfail, Alberta on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 at the age of 97 years. He will be dearly missed by all his family and friends. Gordon was born on June 27, 1926 at Gilmartin, Middlebie, Scotland to George and Edna Armstrong. He was the eldest of three children and was the only boy. Gordon spent his youth on the family farm. On March 7, 1956 he married Janet Edgar and they began their life together on the family farm. They both worked on the farm for two years before deciding to emigrate to Canada. It was in the area of Innisfail, Alberta that he became a herdsman for Wilf Edgar for a total of nine years. In 1967, Gordon and Janet decided to purchase twenty acres in the area of Raven, Alberta, where they made their home for fifty years and raised their two children, Heather and Glen. Gordon was hired with the County of Red Deer, Alberta as a grader operator that same year and retired from the county in 1991. He had an eagle eye for stray hubcaps that he would always pick up off the road and in the ditches. Word got around that if you were missing a hubcap, quite likely, Gordon would have it at his place waiting for the owner to claim it. Gordon was known throughout the area as the man that had the skill and the stovepipe to care for your tomcat! Over the years they raised pigs and steers to supplement their income.
Gordon was very involved in the community of Raven, serving as president and maintaining the Raven United Church Cemetery for quite a number of years. He was always volunteering for something and made the community a better place in doing so. Gordon also was a member of the Caroline Elks and loved to participate in marching with the Patrol Team. He met many life-long friends through the Elks organization. If Gordon wasn’t working or volunteering, he was out enjoying the mountains where he rode horseback, camped, or was riding his snowmobile or quad. He and Janet also enjoyed taking his grandkids on camping trips to the Mount Kidd area in Kananaskis, Alberta, where they had many wonderful experiences. Once he retired both he and Janet tried the snowbird experience, but all that hot weather just wasn’t for him.
Gordon will be lovingly remembered by his daughter, Heather (Kevin) Jones, his son, Glen (Lynn) Armstrong, his eight grandchildren, Mathew, Laine, Riley, Braedon, Jared, Mark, Kat and Keelan (Herline’), as well as his three great grandchildren, Cooper, Malyssa and Evalynn. He will also be deeply missed by his goddaughter, Linda Beaton and his sister, Catherine (Roy) MacPherson. Gordon was predeceased by his wife, Janet of sixty-two years, his parents, George and Edna, a sister, Jean Osborne, and a brother-in law, Bob Osborne.
The family would like to thank all of Dad’s caregivers at the Country and Sunset Manors in Innisfail, Alberta and to Will Vohs for all the visits and cookies every Wednesday.
In keeping with Gordon’s wishes, a Private Family Graveside Gathering will take place at the Raven Cemetery, where he will join his wife, Janet. If desired, Memorial Donations in Gordon’s honor may be made to the Raven Union Church, 4541 Township Road 364, Red Deer County, Alberta, T4G 0M1. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed at www.heartlandfuneralservices.com. Arrangements in care of: Heartland Funeral Services Ltd., 4415 – 49 Street, Innisfail, Alberta. Phone: 403.227.0006