KAY KEAST

1923 - 2013

Katherine Frances Keast, beloved wife of the late John Keast, passed away in Taber on Saturday, June 22, 2013 at the age of 90 years.
Relatives and friends were invited to meet with the family at the Southland Funeral Chapel 5006 - 48 Avenue, Taber on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 between 7:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.
The Funeral Service was held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Taber Stake Centre, 4709 - 50 Avenue, Taber on Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 11:00 A.M. with Bishop Brock Campbell conducting.
Kay is survived by her children Jude Keast (Helen Nelson) of Toronto, Philip Keast of Edmonton, Caroline (Simon) Tang of Vancouver and Linda van Voorthuizen of Toronto; grandchildren Kathy, Brenda, Giorgi, Philip, Iain, Alastair, Sophia and great granddaughter Maya Katherine. She is also survived by her brothers Michael James, Jude James and their families in the United Kingdom.
She was predeceased by her husband John E.V. Keast, sister Rose Eyers, brother Tony James, brother-in-law Roy Eyers, sisters-in-law Jean James, Peggy James and Ethel James.
Kay was born January 23, 1923 in Winchester, England. She entered domestic service to help her family during the great depression in the 1930s. With the advent of war, she became a driver-mechanic in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (RAF). Post war, she trained as a nurse, becoming a Registered Nurse in the early 1950s. She immigrated to Canada in 1956 with the first three of her children, to join her husband John who emigrated from England ahead of them.
Her introduction to Canada began at the French River in the dead of winter where she learned to tell the difference between the barking of dogs and the howling of wolves! She continued her nursing career in Sudbury, Kirkland Lake and Sioux Lookout in Ontario where she and John added their fourth child to the family. In the mid sixties, the Keast family moved to Alberta and she retired from full time nursing a few years later to become an avid, full time gardener. It was said by her friends in Taber that if Kay Keast couldn’t grow it, it couldn’t be grown!
Kay had little in the way of diplomatic skills which meant that you always knew what she thought about a particular subject and where you stood with her. Her love was not uncritical but it was unconditional! She will be missed by family and friends alike.
If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Kay’s name may be made directly to STARS, 1441 Aviation Park NE, PO Box 570, Calgary, Alberta T2E 8M7 (www.stars.ca).
The family extends a grateful thank you to the staff and residents of the Clearview Lodge, the Linden View care facility and Dr. Hughes and staff of the Taber Health Centre, Active Care Unit for the care and compassion shown to Kay during the last few months of her life.