Obituaries

CARLEIGH REAGAN JOHNSON (NEE BOUTANG)

April 26, 1977 to November 8, 2020 

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Carleigh Reagan Johnson (nee Boutang), after a courageous battle with cancer. A beautiful mother, daughter, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, niece, cousin and friend, Carleigh passed away peacefully at Riverview on Sunday, November 8, 2020 at 43 years of age.

She was predeceased by her mother, Susan, and is now in her loving arms. Carleigh will be missed tremendously by her daughter, Harper Maisie, and her son, Finley Hayden, who had the best mom anyone could ever ask for. She will also be missed by her father John,  mother Bonny, brothers Taylor, John Ray and Nick (Jennifer), sister Erin (Brian), nephews Connor, Kevin and Markus, numerous aunts and uncles, cousins, friends and dogs Lola and Coco.

Carleigh lived in Vassar, Manitoba, then moved to St. Vital at age two. She attended St. George, then George McDowell, graduating from Glen Lawn in 1995. Throughout her childhood, Carleigh spent many summers at the family cabin in Buffalo Point swimming in Lake of the Woods with her sister and brothers and visiting Grandma Boutang in Vassar and Grandma and Grandpa Bird in Pinawa. After high school and a year of university, Carleigh decided the mountains were calling and moved to Invermere, BC, and then to Fernie, where she worked, snowboarded, biked, and made several lifelong friends that she remained in touch with until the end.

Carleigh returned to Winnipeg in 2005 and her house was a hub of activity, as she was always hosting family meals and gatherings. She was an amazing cook and even her dogs ate like royalty. She never complained when she had to cook and clean up after, and it is because of those dinners and moments that her family remains close. Her nephews loved to go to sleepovers at Auntie Carleigh’s house where they would watch movies until late at night and eat pancakes in the morning.

Carleigh travelled to Cuba many times with her family and most loved swimming in the ocean, walking into Varadero, sipping a cocktail with family, and travelling to Havana. She also loved travelling to visit old friends in BC and Toronto and spent many summer weeks at the cabin with her children and dogs or on trips to see the Minnesota Twins play ball.

In 2020, Carleigh received her nurse’s assistant diploma from Urban Circle. She loved her new career, met many beautiful friends during her studies and acquired the spirit name of White Wolf Singing Woman. She had just started work at HSC Children’s and took care of the kids there just like her own.

Carleigh was most proud of the wonderful young adults that her children, Harper and Finley, have grown into and the accomplishments they made in school, in sports, and in life. She will continue to shine through them in the years to come.

Thank you to the amazing and compassionate staff, nurses and doctors at Riverview for taking care of Carleigh. Thank you as well to all her family and friends who dropped off food, made donations, held fundraisers, sent gifts, cared for her dogs, called to check in or visit, and helped out in numerous ways.

Due to current public health orders, a celebration of Carleigh’s life will not be held. In lieu of this, please share memories of Carleigh around the dinner table with family and friends when it is safe to do so.

If you wish, you may consider a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society for pancreatic cancer awareness and research in memory of Carleigh or to Riverview Health Centre.