GALLANT, Dorothy

DOROTHY MAY GALLANT May 25, 1934 ~ May 13, 2026 Dorothy May Gallant (nee Kerr), wife of the late James Eugene Gallant, passed away at St. Therese Villa in Lethbridge in the wee hours of May 13, after coping valiantly for many years with a number of health concerns.
She was enormously proud of the large family she leaves behind, a legacy rich with kids, grandkids, great-grandkids and one great-great-grandchild. It was the little ones that really made her glow. Grandma Dot was a positive, happy person who was known (and will be remembered for) her one-of-kind, exuberant laugh. If you know, you know.
She was one of nine kids raised in the farming community of Arcola, Saskatchewan by her parents William and Margaret Kerr. She met her husband Jim while they were both serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force. In the mid-1950s, Dorothy served briefly in a demanding radar‑monitoring role, wearing headphones for long shifts as she listened to the raw signals that helped track aircraft and protect Canadian airspace during the Cold War.
The intensity of the equipment – bursts of static, high-pitched tones, and unfiltered radar returns – caused sudden, complete deafness. Eventually, her hearing was partially restored, and for the rest of her life she coped by laughing at or amiably agreeing to things she couldn’t quite hear. It was part of her charm.
Later, she served as a medical assistant until she married Jim in 1956 and left the military to start a family. The Air Force took them to serve in France and across Canada, during which time Viola (Bruce); Brenda; Marie; Arlene (Bob); George (Sherri); Jim; Juanita (Gene); Brian (Ricky); and Valerie (Mike) were born. She was predeceased by Marie (1958); Brenda (1962); Jim (2023); grandson Ryan (2003); and husband Jim in 2014. She has 20 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-granddaughter.
After their final move to Lethbridge in 2008, they made new friends, volunteered in the community and enjoyed time with family (who loved receiving gifts of her wonderful baking and knitting). She was also a member of the Ex-RCAF Women’s Assoc. of Alberta.
The family wishes to express its deep appreciation to the staff from the 2nd West Memory Care Unit at St.Therese, for the compassionate care they gave to our mother.
Details for a Memorial Mass will be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lethbridge Senior Citizens Association, inquiries@lethseniors.com or call 403-320-2222.

To send a condolence, please visit www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com