Lorna (Alison) Richards passed at away at Red Deer Reginal Hospital on September 12, 2022, at 81 years. She was born on April 14, 1941, in Calgary Alberta. She lived with her family in Rockyford. When her dad Frank went into the military, they lived in Rosebud with her uncle Lorne. They moved a few times before settling in Red Deer in a house on Michener Hill. She attended St. Josephs Convent School to which she walked almost everyday and graduated in 1958. Then she went to work as an orderly at the Michener Center. After that she started book keeping for Alpha Jersey Dairy. Alison had a gift for numbers which she ultimately passed on to her boys. One evening she attended a dance in Sylvan Lake where she met Alex. They were married on October 26, 1961. Alison and Alex moved to the farm and lived in a mobile home. It was a big change for her. In 1962, James was born. Michael came after in 1964. Alison and Alex built the new laying barn and expanded the egg production business to 8000 birds. Alison was gathering, candling and packaging, marketing eggs. Russell came along in 1968. The family started skiing at Darwell and she learned how to ski. Every Sunday the family went to Pine lake and she learned how to water ski with Uncle Ray. Alison took accounting courses at the Red Deer College and became the Farm’s official bookkeeper. She started curling with the ladies curling league and the mixed curling league. Curling became a passion that lasted her entire life. Alison enjoyed golfing and travelling with the family. When the boys were teenagers, she and Alex started to travel the world. Her son Russell passed away 1994 and it was her most difficult time. She held onto her faith, her family and friends.

Alison was excited and relieved after Michael finally got married to Sarah. In preparation for Michael and Sarah moving onto the farm she decided to take on the design of her new house. She chose everything in the house and designed the yard. She was an excellent tree farmer and gardener. Grandkids were her next adventure. She loved “her girls”. Finally women outnumbered men on the farm. She was a devoted grandmother who loved just popping in for visits whether it be in the house or in the garden.

She loved being a part of the action on the farm. Alison always knew everything that was happening on and off the field. She continued her love of crafting by knitting, crocheting and needle point, but she loved designing and making quilts. She loved all kinds of card games but she fell in love with bridge and she played regularly at the Red Deer Bridge Club.

Allison is survived by her husband of 61 years Alex, her sons Jim and Michael (Sarah), and her granddaughters Kathryn and Julia, her sisters Carolyn Trueman, Anne Richman, Pat (John) Curzon, Elaine Zubot, and her brothers John (Rosemary) Hughes, and Charles Hughes and many more beloved family members and friends.

Her funeral mass will be held at St Mary’s Catholic Church (6 McMillan Ave, Red Deer) on September 24^th, 2022 at 11:00 am with her burial at Horn Hill Cemetery. The family would like to thank emergency room staff and the nurses on Unit 32 for their excellent care and kindness. To leave condolences for the family, please visit:  www.reddeerfuneralhome.com

• Date : 2022-09-12
• Location : Red Deer Funeral Home