It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Ms. Roxanne Lynn MacDonald at her home in Calgary, Alberta on Monday, October 14, 2019 at the age of 59 years. Roxanne was born on September 27, 1960 in Stettler, Alberta, to parents Sam and Jean MacDonald. With the communication situation not being what it is now, it was some time after she was born, that the neighbor who had a phone, found Sam out in the field threshing grain, to tell him he had another daughter. Sam had dropped Jean off in Stettler the night before; so she could have the baby because it was harvest time. Roxanne’s family lived in Delburne, Alberta during the summer months and moved around following rigs during the winter, living in a trailer that was eight by thirty-two, way smaller than most holiday trailers are now. They lived in Calgary on McLeod Trail for six months when Roxanne was two years old; this was a testy time keeping track of her near the big old highway. Her sister was four, so city life ended up not suiting this family. Roxanne and her family, now with a new younger brother, Kevin, finally settled on the south shore of Buffalo Lake in 1964. In February of 1965, there would be another brother, Murray. From a very young age, Roxanne would be the boss of her two younger brothers, beating on them if she deemed it necessary, threatening them that if they told mom, she would beat them again. Roxanne spent all of her younger years on the farm, and went to the Erskine and Stettler Schools. She loved nice things, and spent many hours out in the pastures looking for the end of the rainbow. But she had another side, she was known to chase people with snakes, help with chores – only if she had too, and kept the household upside down; sometimes for no reason at all, and getting her sister in trouble for her share of the dishes not being done. Roxanne was her dad’s favorite: no question about it, he called her Babe. In her High School years, she bought a little Pinto car and got a job as a waitress in Stettler. Her summer job also included working at a Law Office. During those years, she met her lifelong friends, Pat, Marg and Marianne. Those three girls saved Roxanne from the wrath of mother so many times. When she finished school, she moved to Red Deer to work for the Department of Agriculture. She found this job to be very boring, and soon beat the streets literally looking for a Legal Secretary’s job. Roxanne then found Chris Warren, a budding young lawyer right out of Law School. They teamed up and she worked for his Law Firm for many years. While she was there, she watched this handsome young man often walking by, until she decided to meet him. That man, Bob Haldane, became her husband and the father of her children. The two of them married and both being professionals, did not start a family right away. They had dogs and dogs, and dogs, and potbellied pigs – in the house! Roxanne had a dog, Chester until a short time ago, and he was her buddy. Roxanne’s first child, a little girl, was stillborn at full term, and there began her troubled years. They did go on to have two healthy boys. Then the couple moved out to the lake, right next to the farm. These two boys could do no wrong, but they have grown up to be fine young men. Roxanne had two nieces, whom she absolutely adored; she shopped with them, played with them and spoiled them. They too, grew up on the farm and as we think back, we remember one time in particular that she spoiled them. Some of you may remember the time at the Elks Club in Red Deer, when one of them embarrassed their grandpa. Sam and Jean dropped the girls off with Roxanne in Red Deer, while they went to a meeting. Roxanne said they were poorly dressed, so she took them shopping. A little while later, in marched the girls with Roxanne, dressed to the nines, as Roxanne always was. One little girl said in a big loud voice, “Grandpa, you can’t say that s—; or bulls—, in a place like this can you?” One time, Roxanne bought Marci a pair of sparkly red shoes, and Marci wore them everywhere, until they wore right out. While working in the Lawyer’s Office, Roxanne decided to do a little business of her own. She built houses. She built three homes in Scenic Sands and one in Red Deer; a products of her ability. She dedicated herself to detail, in her home and in her business life. Soon she became a hockey mom! OMG! It got so even her own mother would not sit beside her at hockey games. Roxanne became a single mom. In 1996, her family built a large building to house mini golf and arcade games. She eventually took this building over and created the most wonderful museum legacy for all to enjoy. She decorated it with antiques, mostly claimed from her grandfather and great grandfather’s stuff left behind, and wanted by no one. She cleaned out old buildings and dug in the earth in basements, just to make sure nothing of any sentimental value would be missed. She attended Auction Sales to add to the collection, attended Gift Shows and had an exquisite Gift Shop, until it turned into a Candy Store. Roxanne’s interaction with the kids at the mini golf building will be sadly missed. Roxanne lost her brother, Murray, and her cousin, Mark in 1997. From that time on, Roxanne struggled with anxiety and depression. She worked very hard to overcome her fears. Roxanne sold her house and bought a condo in Downtown Calgary a few years ago, and did have some “new property” problems. They thought a single girl from the country would not notice, but she did, and most all of it got fixed one way or another. She loved living in the city, where she could dress up, but was still just as much at home on the farm in her sweats. Roxanne’s love for children came to the forefront again, when Kevin had his family later in life than his sisters. While she lived over at the lake with her mom in the summer time, to work at the Resort, she had lots of time to develop a wonderful relationship with Kail and Raya, and their dog, Morris. In fact, we found a new dress for Raya in the possessions she left behind. Roxanne we will miss you, but your troubled days are over and you have found peace. Roxanne will be lovingly remembered by her sons, Brett and Alex (Keltie); her parents, Sam and Jean; her sister, Joanne (Ron); her brother, Kevin (Traci); two chosen sisters, Pat Cassidy and Marg Grandfield; her nieces and nephews, Janelle (Kent) Tova and Dax Robinson, Marci (Cole) and Brooklyn Spady, Kail and Raya MacDonald; as well as special aunts and uncles and many great friends. Roxanne was predeceased by an infant daughter, Belle; a brother, Murray Alan; her grandparents, Dave and Grace MacDonald and Ernie and Ellen Reynolds. If desired, Memorial Donations in Roxanne’s honor may be made directly to the Canadian Mental Health Association, Central Alberta Region at www.reddeer.cmha.ca, or to the Erskine Cemetery Club, c/o Doris Peterson, Box 408, Erskine, Alberta, T0C 1G0. Condolences may be sent or viewed at www.parklandfuneralhome.com. Arrangements in care of Parkland Funeral Home and Crematorium, 6287 – 67 A Street (Taylor Drive), Red Deer. 403.340.4040 or 1.800.481.7421.

• Date : 2019-10-14
• Location : Calgary, Alberta