January 2, 1927 - September 11, 2023
Marian Woodward, born Marian Lucille Davenport in Davisburg,
Alberta, passed peacefully September 11, 2023.
She is survived by her children Jim Reich (Colleen Varcoe),
Susan Eaton (John Eaton), Donna Reich and David Reich, and her
grandchildren: Tara Flynn, Amy McCarthy (Mike), Robert Eaton
(Chantalle), Matt Eaton (Thatsanee Meethao Eaton) & James Eaton
(Jen Blezard), Megan Leblanc (Dan Dooley), Alex Reich (Corrine
Reich), Aaron Jarman (Christy Depever), and her great grandchildren:
Parker, Remy and Brandon Leblanc; Emad and Haneen Kassim,
Charlie and Alexander Eaton.
Marian attended Davisburg School at age 5. One of her fondest
memories was riding her horse Teddy to school until age 13. She
continued her education in Calgary at the Central Collegiate Institute
and Mount Royal College, eventually earning her Bachelor of
Education, with a specialization in mathematics from the University
of Alberta in 1947 at the age of 20. According to Grandma Lucy,
Marian’s mother, she supported Marian’s education by taking loads
of onions by wagon to Calgary for sale!
She began teaching at Saint Hilda’s Calgary (now Strathcona-
Tweedsmuir), and subsequently taught at Lethbridge Collegiate
Institute for 4 years.
Having spent 2 summers working at the Dewinton Airport Flying
Facility during the war, she trained for and received her private pilot’s
license at the Lethbridge Flying Club in 1949. There she met Hans
Reich who she married in 1950. She was a longstanding member
of the “Alberta Flying Farmers Association” and their first “Queen”.
In 1960, Marian moved her 4 children to Calgary where she raised
them while teaching for 10 years each at Henry Wise Wood High
School and Central Memorial High School, and E. P. Scarlett High
School, and taking in boarders.
Marian retired from teaching high school in 1987 and moved to the
homestead in Davisburg where she and her daughter Donna raised
llamas under the banner of Highwood Llamas. They attended shows,
showing often at the Calgary Stampede. She taught English through
Adult Education for another 10 years.
“My mom was always kind and generous”, says Donna, her long
companion, daughter and fellow llama aficionado. “Mom was one of
the most sociable people I have ever met”, says Susan “you couldn’t
go anywhere without running into someone she considered a friend”.
“Best mom ever”, Jim adds, “She was ahead of the curve – raising
her children through those years on her own, becoming a pilot, being
so independent”. “She was the dearest lady I ever met”, said her
friend Elaine of 75 years.
A Celebration of Life will be held Oct 14th in Calgary. Please email
[email protected] or [email protected] to RSVP and
for details.
