Sheila Ruth Mowat-Peterson
Dec. 7, 1940 – Dec. 16, 2025 

Sheila passed away on Dec. 16, 2025, at the age of 85 years, joining the love of her life in heaven on his birthday.

She was born on Dec. 7, 1940, in Smoky Lake, Alta., to Mabel and Ken Currie, the second of three children. The family moved to a farm in the Condor area when she was three.

Sheila attended school at Condor School and graduated from David Thompson High School in 1958. After graduation, Sheila took her nurses’ training in Edmonton through the Grey Nuns. Sheila’s healthcare career included work at Michener Center, Eckville Hospital, and eventually at the Rocky Hospital as a physiotherapy aide, which she loved.

Sheila met and married John Mowat in 1965. They settled in Leslieville, where John ran the local service station. They were blessed with three daughters: Sheri in 1966, Teresa in 1968 and Janice in 1970.

Sheila loved to garden. She grew both vegetables and flowers, filling the freezer and canned food storage for her family for many years. Her green thumb was evident by the beautiful flowers that filled her yard and the abundance of fruit her trees produced, that she willingly shared with family and friends over the years.

Sheila was an artist who dabbled in many different mediums throughout the years. She loved to paint in oil, acrylic and with wax (encaustic). She enjoyed writing poetry, often illustrating her poems with hand drawn pictures of flowers or birds. She loved nature, and it was often the inspiration for her written and drawn art. Sheila also loved music and played the violin from the time she was a child. She loved to sew and quilt, making special gifts or quilts for people she cared about. She worked with a group of ladies for several years, making many quilts for mission work in Mexico.

Sheila was an amazing cook, and one of her very favourite things to do was to feed people. She could coordinate food for large community get-togethers, special family meals, or working as a short order cook.

Sheila liked travelling. She enjoyed trips to Mexico, Hawaii, Arizona, California and North Dakota with friends and family. Her trip in 1986 to Scotland with John was a highlight. She had always hoped to return there but had to enjoy the experience vicariously through her daughters and granddaughters, as they made their way there.

Sheila had a strong faith, and she depended on her Saviour, Jesus Christ, to see her through the tough times, of which there were many in her lifetime. She knew God’s purpose for her life would be fulfilled through her belief and obedience to Him. Sheila was blessed with many special friendships through her church families, especially her Steel Magnolias group, that were some of her longest and dearest friends. She was involved in several different Bible Study groups, and she volunteered for Pioneer Girls (when her girls were young), special music, Ladies Hymn Sing and Ladies Fellowship. Her strength of faith was an inspiration.

The last few years of Sheila’s life were not easy, as her health and independence declined. However, she found amazing strength and courage to face each new challenge. She found joy in every visit from a friend, each phone call from someone who cared and the new friends she made in the staff and fellow residents at Good Sam/ Clearwater Centre.

Sheila is survived by her three daughters: Sheri (Cliff) Skocdopole, Teresa (Jason) Eveleigh, Janice (Lee) Petersen; six grandchildren: Wes (Ashlyn), Rowan, Devon, Amanda (Evan), Abby and McKenna; five great-grandchildren: Duncan, Georgia, Jones, Enid and Dottie; other special family members: Kristi, Cal, William and Abram; brother Neil (Linda) Currie and sisters-in-law Sheila Mowat and Anna Mowat; many nieces, nephews and special friends.

She was predeceased by the love of her life, John Mowat, and second husband, Alec Peterson; her parents Mabel and Kenneth Currie; brother Allen Currie; niece Kim Currie; mother- and father-in-law Caroline and Duncan Mowat; and brothers-in-law Tom Mowat and Doug Maisey.

A celebration of Sheila’s life will be held on Saturday, April 18, at 1 p.m. at the Rocky Mountain Alliance Church, 5304 - 57 Street, Rocky Mountain House, Alta.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Sheila’s name can be made to the MEL Society (Rocky Mountain House) or the Good Samaritan (Clearwater Centre) Recreation Department.

Condolences may be forwarded to www.rockyfuneralhome.ca.

Rocky and Sylvan Lake Funeral Homes and Crematorium, your Golden Rule Funeral Homes, entrusted with the arrangements.