1936 ~ 2023
Bev passed away peacefully in her sleep at Greenwoods Thursday May 18, 2023. Bev was a painter, art teacher and weaver.
Bev was born in Montreal to parents Hazel & Norman Bakes. Brothers David & Norman followed before they moved out to Vancouver in 1948 before graduating King Ed High School in 1954. Bev married Ronald Watt in 1957 and raised sons Dallas & Lloyd in Vancouver until she remarried the love of her life, James Lillyman in 1971. Dallas married Heather Cameron and gave Bev Grandchildren Jackie & Ryan. Lloyd married Kathy Champagne and gave her Grandchildren Christopher and Matthew. Bev had 4 Great Grandchildren, Jayden (Jackie’s), Elyse & Jacob (Christopher’s) & Angelina (Matthew’s).
Jim & Bev dedicated much of their time in Vancouver to Scouting. Bev’s Cub Pack name was Bagheera. Jim & Bev moved to Salt Spring in 1989 and built a house on North End Road until they moved to Brinkworthy in 1991 where she set up her art studio & weaving loom and taught & shared her artistic passions with local students.
Bev was a long time active member of the Salt Spring island spinners & weavers guild. She was a past president and also coordinated the Eye for Colour, a collaboration with painters and other crafts.
She was a member of the Salt Spring Island painter’s guild and was a keen golfer and in 1991 was a founding member of the Business Ladies league at the Salt Spring Island Golf & Country Club.
Bev’s professional career spanned 35+ years with the TD Bank and Island Savings, but her passion was acrylic & water colour painting. Her paintings and weavings are lovingly displayed by family and friends locally on Salt Spring, across Canada, the USA, Australia and England.
Bev will be missed by all who loved her and was laid to rest at the Purdy Cunningham Cemetery on Saturday, May 27th at 1pm. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Brinkworthy Clubhouse later this Summer at a date to be named later.