In Memory Of

John William Houlton

Feb 4, 1945 - Jun 22, 2024

Service

Saturday, July 6, 2024
1:00 pm
Caroline Community Hub
July 6, 2024 at 1 pm
Inurnment at Caroline Cemetery and Luncheon at the Royal Canadian Legion Caroline, Alberta to follow.

Interment

Caroline Cemetery

Obituary

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of John William Houlton, of Caroline, Alberta, on June 22,2024, at the age of 79 years.
John was the first boy born to Bill and Hazel Houlton on February 4, 1945, in Vulcan, Alberta. He was the fourth of eight children. They moved to Caroline when he was in grade nine, and that’s when he said his life really started. He loved this part of the country. They lived at the Bar XL Ranch, 12 miles west of Caroline. John, his sister Barb and the other friends spent many days riding and would ride into Phyllis Lake even before there was a road into it.
John spent his high school years in Caroline, where he was one of the first to play on the basketball and volleyball teams, as the school gym was put in when he was in grade 10.
After Hohn graduated, he worked at various jobs, from Ricinus Stock Farms to John Moberg’s saw mill, to working derrek on rigs throughout Alberta, Northern BC, Saskatchewan, and N.W.T. He even spent a winter in the Arctic east of Inuvik where the temperatures were -70 degrees or colder.
The fall of 1963 was his first trip to the mountains working for Don and Bob McNutt. This is where his guiding career started, working mostly with Roy Trimble. In 1969 John started working for Stan Reynolds out of Dawson City, Yukon until 1980. What started out as an employer/employee relationship with Stan, turned into a lifelong friendship not only with Stan but with his family as well. Also during this time he became friends with another guide, Gerard Dugas, who became one of his best friends.
Through the ‘70’s, John called home wherever he hung his hat. During this time he became interested in team roping. He used his horse Kaos, which he broke and trained himself. From then on rodeo and team roping took up a lot of his spare time.
In 1980, he rented a quarter section south of Caroline and started raising quarter horses. He worked a lot of F.C.A. rodeos and jackpots. He made it to the F.C.A. finals in 1986 in Cow Milking at Hanna, Alberta. He had a team in the pack horse race in Caroline for a lot of years and won it four times. He also won All-Around in the Caroline Rodeo six times. He joined the Ricinus-Wooler Community Association in 1978 and was an active member for 20 years, during that time he held positions of dirtor and president from 1987-1997. During John’s first marriage, he had two daughters, Laura and Twyla. Then, at the Caroline Rodeoin 1982, John asked a young cowgirl Darlene to hold his horses; they went on to win the pack horse race twice. In 1985, John married Darlene, and took over farming her Dad’s farm in the Butte area, where together they raised her two sons Brian and Brad (Mouse). They continued to work and build up their herd, raising commercial and registered Simmentals. It was a lot of hard work, but they were happy with the place that they had built up.
John is survived by his wife of forty years, Darlene Houlton; daughter Laura; her children Jesse, Adam, and Erin: daughter Twyla and her daughter Lea. Son Mouse (Kim), their daughters Alexandra and Ava. Sisters Shannon (Pete), Sharan, Barb (Bill), Joyce, Kathy, and brother Gord (Val), as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
John is predeceased by father Bill, mother Hazel, son Brian and sister Carolyn.
Memorial donations can be made in John’s name to any LOCAL Charity donors choice
Memorial Service Caroline Community Hub, July 6, 2024, at 1 pm
Inurnment at Caroline cemetery and luncheon to follow at the Royal Canadian Legion, Caroline, Alberta

Condolences

Geraldine (Dean) Haney -Ross:

Darlene. I would like to extend my deepest condolences on your loss The last time I stopped for a visit with John was Thursday afternoon after I had taken Ken in for radiation treatment I was so happy when he told me that you were the best thing that ever happened to him. I was so happy I don’t think life was too good for awhile. When I knew John best he was very similar in lot of ways to Clayton and I kinda always felt like he was my other brother. He and Clayton were a pair of teasers so we always had a laugh or two. I know that I cannot say I feel your pain but think i understand it quite well probably I was with Red for 25 years before he passed over with myelo dysplasia. He was the love of my life my first marriage was not so good. So I have been alone for 17 years. Not alone really I still had my girls. But miss him still. I hold him in my heart and talk and chuckle over a lot of fun things he said or done. That is my best advice to you. Remember the good things the best things and remember him at his best in life and not at the end. That will leave you much happier. If ever I can do anything to help or listen I would be honoured

Judy Jones:

My deepest and heartfelt condolences to Darlene, Mouse and family. Also to all of Johns siblings. He was a wonderful man. Had many laughs and good visit with John and Darlene over the years. He will be missed but not forgotten. May you rest in peace John. Happy trails forever.

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