August 13, 1945 – July 24, 2026
Kathleen left us on July 24th , 2026 as she lived, gently and quietly. She was certainly welcomed home and embraced with love by her family and friends who have gone before her. She remains close in spirit to her family and friends remaining here which includes her special friend Harold, her children Sherie (Darcy), Brent and Brad, her grandchildren Caitlin & Bryan (Myrna), Angeline and Madison, her bonus grandchildren Cassie, Sarah, Emily, Darshae and Ayden, her sisters and many adored nieces, nephews and friends.
Kathleen was born in Edson, Alberta to the Payne family of 2 brothers and 6 sisters. At just 21 years old she was a wife and mother, running a home and caring for a three-year-old, an eleven-month-old and a new born baby. She made wonderful homecooked meals, canned fruits and vegetables, baked bread, cinnamon buns, whipped shortbread cookies and many other treats from scratch. One of everyone’s favourites was Tomato Soup Cake with Caramel Icing. They may have been too young to recognize those blessings then but can now appreciate the gifts of a stay-at-home mom and her labours of love. Kathleen was also a foster parent, providing love and safety and advocacy to many more children.
Her tiny, delicate stature and her incredible determination, strength and resilience was such a paradox. Tiny but tough! Courage is not the absence of fear. It is action in spite of fear. In spite of her fear of flying and her fear of water Kathleen took a job at River’s Inlet, a remote fishing camp on a barge on the ocean that required her to fly in on a small twin engine plane and land on the water just to get to work! She was brave!
Kathleen was a shy and private person so there may be things about her that some people may not know. She was a poet and made beautiful stained glass. She loved to sing and performed an entertaining Mick Jagger impersonation.
“People will forget what you said and what you did but they never forget how you made them feel.” Kathleen’s super power was her ability to be present and hold space for people. Her legacy will live on in all her loved ones who felt seen and heard and held by her.
To honor and keep Kathleen’s spirit close, be brave and do things that might scare you. Sing and create things. Bake a tomato soup cake. Most importantly see, hear and hold your loved ones. Thank you, Kathleen, for showing us what love looks like.
A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2026 at 1 p.m. in the Kamloops Funeral Home at 285 Fortune Drive, Kamloops, BC V2B 2H7.
Our deepest gratitude to Dr. Ferrell, Donalda and the Marjorie Willoughby Hospice. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Marjorie Willoughby Hospice at 72 Whiteshield Crescent, Kamloops, BC V2E 2S9.
Condolences may be sent to the family at
www.kamloopsfuneralhome.com