GRAY, Elizabeth Katharine (nee Jackson) With deep sadness, we announce that Elizabeth Gray died peacefully at the age of 89, at Winnipeg's West Park Manor on Saturday, October 24, 2009, following a lengthy illness. Born in Niagara Falls, Ontario, on June 22, 1920, the younger of two daughters, Elizabeth held dual citizenship until she was 21, but was both a true Canadian, and an inveterate traveller. At various times in her life she lived, studied or worked in Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-theLake; Toronto; North Bay, Ontario; Bella Bella, British Columbia; Edmonton; Regina and Victoria, as well as in Winnipeg. Elizabeth began her university studies at the U of T, where she was initially one of the few women enrolled in Medicine. Opting instead to obtain her B.A., she subsequently decided to pursue physiotherapy, and earned a diploma that was to be of great value during Canada's polio epidemic in 1953. Following graduation in 1941, she married Dr. David Beaton Albertson and together they had five children Mary Barbara Huck (Peter St. John), Graham Beaton Jackson (Sarah), twins Patricia Louise Cormie and Paul David Albertson (who predeceased her in March 2009) and Nancy Elizabeth Most (Jack). All will miss her terribly. After their children were grown, she and David separated, and Elizabeth went back to university to obtain a physiotherapy degree at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg in 1973, and then headed west to oversee a physiotherapy department in Humboldt, Saskatchewan. She married a second time in 1975 and, with Horace (Smokey) Gray (who predeceased her), travelled extensively, touring Asia, Australia, Mexico and the United States. Travelling was among Elizabeth's great loves along with her many dogs and flying in small planes and helicopters. Whether it was roughing it in the backwoods, sailing along the coast of Vancouver Island, touring Europe or travelling in Canada's North, she was always ready, at the drop of a hat, to go almost anywhere. But by far her most memorable trip was the African safari that she and her younger children took through Zambia's Luangua Valley in 1972. Almost to the end of her life, she talked of that adventure, of the wild dogs that tore through their bush camp on the heels of an impala, and the earth-shaking roar of the lions. Elizabeth was also devoted to her 13 grandchildren Dawn Marie Huck (Charlie Lalonde); Anthony Cameron St. John; Caroline Jane Huck (Christopher Ganas) and Erin Katherine Huck; Sherri Marion Elizabeth Moore-Arbour (Alain Arbour); Matthew Gordon Stewart Cormie (Tia); Paul David Stewart Cormie (Jennifer); Elizabeth Ann Albertson; Jennifer Louise Peters (Grant); Paul Beaton Albertson (who died in infancy); Bryan Mathew Most; Heather Elizabeth Katherine Most; David Beaton Jackson and Cayla Jackson and, in recent years, to her eight great-grandchildren. And they, in turn, adored her. Despite the generations she begat, Elizabeth was more than once heard to muse, If I had it all to do over again, I think I would have raised dogs." And it's hard to find a photograph of her that does not have one or more of her many dogs in it. The last one, rescued from a puppy mill, was Penny, an apricot poodle who was so devoted to her that her daughter, Pat, quipped, Well, Mom won't need a leash. Penny is Velcro-ed to her pants." Penny had hardly taken up residence when she presented Elizabeth with three tiny poodle puppies. Thrilled, their new owner crowed, I always wanted puppies!" In her final years, Elizabeth suffered from Alzheimer's disease, but despite her occasional dismay, her remarkable sense of humour remained intact to the end, and was much enjoyed by all. The family offers many thanks to the wonderful, caring staff at West Park Manor, who made it feel like home. A celebration of Elizabeth's life will be held on Sunday November 1, at 2440 Sooke Road from 14pm. We hope all her friends will join us. 566325 Published in the Victoria Times-Colonist from 10/27/2009- 10/28/2009