Leonard Douglas McDougall

McDOUGALL, Leonard Douglas

Leonard Douglas McDougall passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 19, 2017. He was born October 30, 1927 in Calgary. His great grandfather was the Rev. George McDougall, one of the early settlers in southern Alberta and his grandfather Rev. John McDougall, pioneer missionary at Morley, AB.  This was a heritage that Len cherished. 

Len was a lifelong educator, obtaining his bachelor of Education in 1959 from the University of Alberta, after 14 years of summer school. He started his teaching career in Crossfield, AB and then later on as teacher and principal in several schools with the Calgary Board of Education. At the time of his retirement in 1984 he was in Central office over seeing Art/Drama/Music/Phys Ed for all the Calgary schools. 

Len met Eva Warden, an English teacher, while he was searching for a tutor for a couple of his students.  Eva, stricken with Polio at the age of 19, was confined to a wheelchair but this didn’t matter to Len. On April 3, 1958, he married the love of his life, and they shared 35 years together before Eva’s passing on January 25, 1993. When Len was in his early 30’s, his life was changed forever when he acknowledged Jesus as his Lord and Savior. He became an avid student of the Bible; which led Len and Eva to begin Bible Studies in their home. These Bible studies later evolved into “The Word Ministries” where Len taught for over 30 years. Len’s desire was always to point people to Jesus and he would face every decision or challenge with “Let me pray about it”. 

Len was instrumental in restoring the McDougall Methodist Church, the little white church along the 1A highway near Morley. He held many positions on the board of the McDougall Stoney Mission Society which oversees the church. He always looked forward to the bi-annual services at the church in June and September.

Len was avid cattleman and actively owned a herd of cattle until the age of 87. He was always proud of his grandfather John McDougall who brought the 1st cattle into southern Alberta. Len kept John’s historic monogram JM brand alive by purchasing it in the 1950’s. 

Len was generous and compassionate, a loving dad and grandad, a champion of the underdog, and a father figure to many.  He will be lovingly remembered by his children Doug (Karen) of Calgary, Kathy (Vic) Epp of Didsbury, and Audrey (Al) Epp of Blackfalds; and by his 4 grandchildren, Mikaela, Kaelan, Joel and Aidan, whom he adored.

Special thanks to Jennifer at the Cardiac Function Clinic and to the caring staff at the Evanston Grand Village, especially Adrianna for all their kindness. They made Len’s life richer.

A Celebration of Len’s Life will be held at the Harvest Hills Alliance Church, 10099 Harvest Hills Blvd NW, Calgary, AB on Monday, January 30, 2017 at 1:30 pm. If so desired, donations can be made in Len’s memory to the McDougall Morley Mission Society, PO Box 1515, Crossfield, AB, T0M 0S0 or Samaritan’s Purse, 20 Hopewell Way NE, Calgary, AB, T3J 5H5.