Elaine Thomson, 82 years young went to the house of the lord on August 5, 2022. She was born October 2, 1939 in Austin, Manitoba, Canada. Elaine is predeceased by her parents Iverna and Melvin Thomson and brother Glen Thomson.

Elaine is survived by her husband of 39 years Roddey Keith and Nephews Don and Garth Thomson, Greg Keith, Keith Mitchell and nieces Cheryl (Thomson) Danis, Cynthia Mitchell and Brindley (Mitchell) Wheeler.

Elaine grew up in the Austin area and upon graduating from secondary school she moved to Winnipeg to begin her lifelong journey in Nursing. She received a degree in nursing from the Winnipeg Children’s Hospital and the pursued her interest in surgery at the children’s hospital. In 1961, Elaine moved to Kansas City, Missouri to work at the Children’s Hospital. It was one of the few Children’s Hospitals in the United States. It was at this time she gained a deep passion for surgery and especially in the area of Cardiovascular Surgery.

Her dreams and ambitions drew her to the Methodist Hospital in, Houston Texas. She became manager of the Cardiovascular Center where she had the opportunity to work with Dr, Michael DeBakey. Her Leadership and organizational skills were invaluable in the areas of Ophthalmology and E.N.T operating rooms.

Elaine was a very astute leader both with the people she worked with as well as financially. She had the ability to identify the appropriate skill set for working closely with physicians, staff and all personnel for best patient outcomes in areas that she managed. She always explored possibilities, networked and carefully thought through actions and innovations.

Elaine always found time to keep a high level of visibility and commitment to perioperative nursing through involvement in the Association of Perioperative Nurses (AORN) both locally and nationally. She became credentialled as a Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR), as a prestigious way to recognize her excellence in practice. She served as AORN President, Board member and Committee member for several years and received numerous awards and recognition. She was honored as an outstanding leader by the Federation of Houston Professional Women and received a Certificate of Appreciation from the City of Houston for Meritorious Service to the Community in 1982.

On the national level, Elaine was a member of the National AORN as a member of the Board of Directors from 1984-1986 and received the prestigious “Award Excellence” in 1989. She served on numerous national committees and task forces. Elaine was the AORN Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations representative on the 1988-1992 PTAC (Professional and Technical Advisory Committee).

Elaine had a reputation for encouraging young people to love nursing and make it their lifelong passion, as was hers. She bubbled with energy and made nursing fun and memorable. There was much laughter with Elaine and her footprints will always be present, leading, and guiding others to perform at their highest level and take care of their patient with safety, dignity and respect.

Away from the hospital Elaine had a spirit that was second to no one. She began to fly when she was in Kansas City and later would take up sailing with her husband on their boat in Houston. They sailed across the Gulf of Mexico and chartered boats in the Caribbean while on vacation.

In 1995, Elaine returned to children’s nursing and took a position with Driscoll Children’s Hospital in Corpus Christi. She sailed her boat to Corpus Christi and lived aboard for 6 months. She soon purchased a condominium with a beautiful view of the beach and gulf.

After 3 years on the beach at Corpus Christi, Houston was calling again and she began working at Christus St. John Hospital at Nassau Bay, Texas. Elaine managed the Operating Rooms while at Christus St. Johns. The hospital was near the water and a short drive to Lakewood Yacht Club which Elaine and Roddey had been members since 1990.

Retirement came in 2006 but 6 months later she was back in the nursing field but this time as a Consultant and Marketer which led to extensive travel across America.

In 2011 she finally had her last retirement. Elaine and Roddey travelled often, and she became heavily involved with the Ladies Association at the Yacht Club. This new found time afforded occasional trips to many cities. The last being a wonderful trip to Washington, D.C. Roddey met up with her and they visited Mount Vernon together.

Elaine’s life was never slow. Stories of endeavors and success in the hospital, flying planes, sailing or travelling adventures kept all of us amazed and always laughing.

She will never be forgotten by all of those who had the chance to be with her.