Kay Diane Lee
September 26, 1946 - May 16, 2014
Kay died in palliative care at the Nanaimo hospital on the morning of May 16, 2014 after a short battle with cancer. She was predeceased by her son Robert “Troy” Lee in 2005 and her brother Frederick Howard Shepard in 2008. She is survived by her husband of nearly 42 years, James “Barry” Lee; sister, Glenda Belle Mersky and family; grand children, Nathan Robert Lee, Kevin James Lee, Jordan Anthony Lee, and Victoria Joy Lee.
Kay was born in Lacombe, Alberta, but moved to Edmonton in the mid 1950’s. A few years after moving to Edmonton, her brother started chumming around with Barry, and eventually a romantic relationship developed between Kay and Barry. This relationship was on-again, off-again over about a ten-year period before the two eventually decided to marry.
Immediately after their marriage, Kay and Barry moved to Dartmouth, Nova Scotia where Barry got a job as a defense scientist. They stayed in Nova Scotia for almost five years, and during that time, they adopted a baby boy that they named Robert “Troy”.
In 1977, Kay and Barry moved back to Alberta to Calgary where Barry was offered a job. In Calgary, Kay got in to volunteer work at different art centers and she eventually developed an interest in working with clay. Then in 1996, Barry opted to take a special early retirement from his work and he and Kay chose to move to Vancouver Island, eventually deciding on a home in Qualicum Beach.
Going back to her younger years, Kay was an award-winning hair dresser. After she and Barry adopted Troy, Kay devoted most of her time to being a home maker. She still found time to pursue her interest in various forms of art, though, and most recently, she pursued her interests as a ceramic artistcreating some very interesting and unique art pieces, many of which are still deeply cherished by Barry.
Since moving to the Parksville/Qualicum area in 1996, Kay has also been an active volunteer with Citizens on Patrol and was also a volunteer with Oceanside
Emergency Preparedness for quite a number of years. It was only when she developed cancer that Kay had to give up her volunteer activities.
With Kay’s passing, she will be greatly missed by family and friends. In lieu of any flowers, please consider a donation in Kay’s memory to the Canadian Cancer
Society, Unit E 777 Poplar Street, Nanaimo, BC V9S 2H7.
A Memorial Reception is being held in Kay’s honour on Friday, May 30th from 2:00 – 4:00 pm at Yates Funeral Chapel at 1000 Allsbrook Road in Parksville. Small sandwiches, assorted desserts, coffee, tea, and juice will be available. Come and share in your favourite stories about Kay.