Booth,
Kathleen (Kay) Stavers
20 October 1920 –
20 July 2012
Kay passed away peacefully at home on Friday evening with Eric, Cindy and Neacol by her side. She will be greatly missed by all her family: Colin (Louise), Janice, Eric (Cindy) and Perry (Kellie), her grandchildren Kathleen, Peter, Neacol Miller (Stanley), Taylor and Travis (Robyn), and great grandchildren Violet and Ivy. Kay is survived by her sister Betty Sweeney, sister-in-law Betty Campbell and many nieces and nephews. Kay was predeceased by her husband Ernie, son Peter, and grandson Jarrod, brothers Johnnie and Tommy Taylor and sister Letty Turnbull.
Kay and Ernie moved to Salt Spring in March 1949 from Vancouver with Colin and Janice in tow. They were soon involved in the community, making life-long friends and loving the rural life (except maybe the goats). Eric, Peter and Perry soon rounded out the family, to Mom and Dad’s delight. Mom loved hosting the family for almost any occasion. Always a classy lady, the good china, silver and crystal were laid out every time. Christmas dinners are described by family as “the best Christmas dinners ever”.
Kay contributed to the Salt Spring Island community in countless ways. She was instrumental in starting the Lady Minto Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Store and volunteered there well into her 91st year. Kay took great joy in singing with the Lost Chords Seniors’ Choir, her highly skilled sewing won trophies and ribbons at the Fall Fair, and until her mid 80s she was a regular at the Saturday Farmers Market selling beautifully sewn children’s clothes. She delighted in solving the New York Times Sunday crossword, enjoyed bridge games with her “nutty club” friends, and amassed several eclectic collections of treasures.
Kay and Ernie explored much of B.C. and the Pacific coastal states in their motorhome. Family holidays were spent camping–Miracle Beach, Penticton, Banff and Jasper (“look at those mountains!!”). Seventeen trips to Hawaii brought many happy memories. Kay was always ready to try anything fun and exciting: on a trip to Australia at the age of 78, she climbed to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, she loved going to the horse races, or taking tours to off-island thrift stores to hunt down a good bargain. And the costume parties!! Kay’s sparkling smile and joie de vivre will be missed by all that knew her.
There will be a celebration of Kay’s life later this year. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Lady Minto Hospital Foundation would be appreciated.