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It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Dawn Hayton in Saskatoon on September 4th, 2017.

She was predeceased by her husband Robert Carlyle (Bob) Hayton, parents Norman and Kathleen Code and her younger brother, Allan.

Dawn is survived by her children, Susan (Grant Stoneham), and Peter (Sarah Bornstein); and her siblings, Sheldon Code (Verna) and Barbara McKay. Her survivors include beloved grandchildren, Emily, Frances and Kathleen Stoneham, as well as, Nicholas and Matteo Hayton. She is also survived by sisters-in-law, Joan Cockcroft and Verna Code.

Dawn grew up in the district of Springvale, Alberta, just outside of Red Deer, and attended the University of Edmonton, graduating with a teaching certificate. She married Bob Hayton in 1954 and subsequently taught school in Calgary and Edmonton before moving to Loon Lake, Saskatchewan in 1958, where Bob began practicing medicine. The couple moved to Saskatoon in 1960 and Dawn ultimately returned to the University of Saskatchewan to complete a BA and a Bed, while raising her two children.

Dawn taught Elementary and High School English classes, both full and part time, over the years. She subsequently worked on a volunteer basis for Telecable 10 television station interviewing artists, authors and environmentalists.

Dawn loved to read, play bridge and follow Canadian and US politics. She discussed her ideas and concerns with her family and friends, often sending news items to them in order to continue the conversation.

Dawn was a smart, loving and vivacious individual. She was full of life and love, and her death is devastating to those who loved her. We will miss the way she embraced life and was willing to try new things and take on new challenges. In addition to all else, she was a wonderful mother and friend.

When she was 49 years old, while on sabbatical with Bob and Peter in California, Dawn took up running and continued to pursue this passion until arthritis forced her to slow to a walk in her early 70s. She competed in a number of 5 and 10 km races and several half marathon competitions and she ran 3 kms most days, until her knees began to slow her progress.

Dawn loved to travel and was lucky to be able to explore many areas of the world with her husband, Bob, and subsequently with friends. Recent trips include visits to Cuba, China and Brazil. She embraced modern technology and would keep in touch with family and friends while away, emailing photos and highlights of her travels.

Approximately ten years ago, Dawn began to show signs of a degenerative muscle disease (Inclusion Body Myositis). She courageously struggled against this disease during the following years. She has been helped so much by loving and supportive friends who made this struggle more bearable.

Her family would like to thank the kind and dedicated staff at Stonebridge Crossing who made her last year more tolerable. The staff at St. Paul's Hospital, and their wonderful Palliative Care Unit, have been marvelous in easing the path to death. In particular, we want to thank her caring, compassionate family physician, Dr. Janet Reynolds and her palliative care physician, Dr. Viv Walker, both of whom made this difficult journey easier to bear.

A celebration in memory of Dawn's life will be held at the University Club at 3 pm on Friday, September 15th, 2017.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Palliative Care Unit, St. Paul's Hospital, or the Prairie Hospice Society, both in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.