JEAN ELSIE GOTT
March 2, 1924 – February 28, 2014
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Jean Elsie Gott (formerly, Jean Slater, nee Turner) mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt and friend.
“Jeanie” is predeceased by her husbands, John and Roderick; brothers George, Howard, Allan, Ron and Bill; sisters Isabel and Catherine; son, James and grandson, Paul. Jean is survived by her sister, Marilyn and children, Cathy Liz Slater (Johnny), Jock (Janet) Slater, Cathy Lynne (Alex) Burton, Randy (Pam) Gott, Debby Gott, 11 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.
Jean spent the first 9 years of her life in Lashburn, Saskatchewan. When the family farm was lost during the depression the family relocated to Vancouver where they lived in a house on Royal Oak Ave in Burnaby. Always outgoing, Jean won a speech and picture girl contest in grade 11 and for a time was lead singer in a swing band with her brother, Allan who played saxophone and clarinet. After graduating from BurnabyCentralHigh School, Jean worked briefly as a receptionist before marrying her first husband, John Slater, a civil engineer in 1947. They raised three children while living in Vancouver, Kamloops, Edmonton and Calgary, where John died of leukemia in 1957 at age 38. Moving to the Coast to be near her family, Jean remarried to Roderick Gott in 1960, joining Rod and his three children in the beautiful home that Rod had built on the SeymourRiver in North Vancouver. The blended family of eight lived there until 1971. For the next 15 years Rod and Jean travelled between Burnaby and a cabin they built at WatchLake, near 100 Mile House in the Caribou. After expanding the cabin they resided full time at Watch Lake from 1986 before relocating to Kamloops in 1996 and then to Kamloops Seniors Village in 2009. After Rod’s passing in 2012 Jean has been surrounded and supported by friends and staff at the KSV.
As a wife and mother, Jean sewed and quilted, dressing her children and homes with her fabric skills. Later, Jean expressed herself in multiple arts and crafts, including her “signature” tatted watercolour cards, knitting and painted woodwork. Jean will always be remembered for her bright sweaters and scarves, her upbeat nature, her “Turner wit”, and her great desire not to impose on or hurt anyone.
Heartfelt thanks to the staff at KamloopsSeniorsVillage, the RoyalInlandHospital and Ponderosa Lodge who took such good care of Jean during her final bout of declining health. Special thanks to Rosanna and Glen and Maggie and Todd for being there for Jean when her family couldn’t and Dr. Alison Chung.
Mom, you enriched the lives of everyone you encountered and you will be greatly missed.
‘We say not in grief that she is no more,
but live in thankfulness that she was.’
A family celebration of Jean’s Life will take place in Vancouver in March. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice.