CECILE CLAYTON-GOUTHRO RN, BFA, MS, PHD

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CECILE CLAYTON-GOUTHRO RN, BFA, MS, PHD April 30, 1945 - February 11, 2006 It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Cecile, mother, wife, sister, friend. She will be forever held dear by her children, Joanne Clayton (Paul Morrison) and Ian Clayton (Naoko Shinada), their father Alan Clayton, and by her husband Steve Gouthro. She is also loved and missed by brothers and sisters, Vivianne Fior (Abe), Raye Bell (Ron), Roger Aessie (Tillie), John Aessie (Patti) Robert Aessie (Pat) and Albert Aessie (Wendy). Born in St. Brieux, Saskatchewan, to Louis and Marie Assie. Cecile spent most of her youth in Saskatoon, before living in England, Ottawa, Regina, and Winnipeg. She has had many vocations. Her first career was in nursing where she specialized in psychiatric care. She then spent a number of years as a stay-at-home mom. While in Regina, Cecile, with her sister-in-law Pat and other partners opened SCOVA, an antique store. Cecile's enthusiasm for historic costume was nurtured at the antique shop, where she frequently had opportunities to evaluate and acquire garments from clients. This interest in costume found an outlet of expression in Winnipeg, where she worked as a wardrobe mistress for a couple of television productions. Cecile then studied for and earned her BFA at the University of Manitoba School of Art. Deciding she needed a more practical degree, Cecile obtained her Master of Science degree from the U of M Faculty of Human Ecology. Her master's thesis was published as a monograph by the Canadian Museum of Civilization. Maintaining her interest in costume and design, but changing her focus from ethnic culture to theatre, Cecile completed an interdisciplinary PHD that combined theatre, art history, history and human ecology. As a professor in the Clothing and Textiles department of Human Ecology at the University of Manitoba, Cecile taught various history of costume and design courses. She guided several students through their Master of Science degrees. At the same time, she encouraged the development of talented young designers and their participation and success at national competitions. During all this time, Cecile was a practicing visual artist, combining her awareness of historic and contemporary culture with a feminist appropriation of traditional women's craft to create sometimes powerful, sometimes intimate works of art. With all of her own achievements, Cecile's greatest pride has always been in the successes and work of her children. She was always on the lookout for story ideas for her son Ian, a journalist currently working at CBC Radio in Vancouver. She also took an avid and active interest in the design and operations of her daughter Joanne's Toronto restaurant, relish Bar Grill. When cancer came into her life, Cecile faced it with the same intelligence and creativity as everything else she undertook. She researched her condition thoroughly on the Internet as well as investigating many alternative therapies. Cecile's attitude was that this was a chronic condition to be treated as the need arose, but not to interfere with the important personal and creative experiences of life, and she lived this philosophy for seven years. We are especially grateful to Dr. Morel Rubinger and oncology nurse Jayne Kasian as well as head nurse Jeannine Chester and all of her team in the Chemotherapy treatment clinic. There will be a celebration of Cecile's life on Thursday, February 16 at 2:00 p.m. at the Brio Hall in the Winnipeg Art Gallery, 300 Memorial Boulevard. Those who wish to can make a donation in Cecile's name to CancerCare Manitoba Foundation, 695 McDermot Ave. Room 1160, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0V9 or The Assiniboine Park Zoo, 460 Assiniboine Park Drive, R3P 2N7, attention Jenith Dack.

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 15, 2006