Dec. 3, 1918 - July 15, 2017
We regret to announce the passing of our beloved mother, aunt, great aunt, and great, great aunt, Marion Kellett of Canim Lake, BC in Merritt, BC, on July 15, 2017.
She was born on a farm at Lake Eliza, Alberta, on Dec. 3, 1918.
Marion was one of five sisters and four brothers born to Alec and Annie Rurik.
The family moved to Edmonton, Alberta, in the 1920s and Marion grew up there.
She moved to Trail, BC when she was about 20, and on to Vancouver after the outbreak of WWII. She worked in the kitchen of St. Pauls’ Hospital and as an electrician and riveter at Burrard Dry Docks in North Vancouver.
She met George Kellett at a dance and later married him on Sept. 11, 1943. He was the love of her life and they were
together for 55 years until his death in 1998.
In 1945, the couple moved to Canim Lake and went into business with George's sister and brother-in-law, George and Kathleen Simpson, operating the Shangri-La General Store, Resort and Post Office.
The Kelletts assumed full ownership in 1954 and operated it until they retired in 1975.
For the next 23 years they spent their winters in California and their summers in the Cariboo. They also traveled the world.
After George passed away, Marion rebuilt her life and joined the Canim Lake Fire Protection Society and continued to make new friends.
She touched many lives in the course of her long life and will be greatly missed.
Marion is mourned by her son, Gordon of Canim Lake, many nieces and nephews; great nieces and nephews; sister-in-law Gladys Rurik of Edmonton, Alberta and her special friends Robert and Michelle Haretzmueller of Canim Lake and Howard and Linda Shannon of Kelowna, BC.
The family thanks Dr. Donald Street for his care of Marion for almost 40 years; the staff of Fischer Place and Dr. Duncan Ross and the staff of the Nicola Valley Hospital for their care in her final days.
The Funeral Service for Marion Kellett will be held on Friday Aug. 4, 2017 at 2pm in the Forest Grove Community Hall, Forest Grove, BC. A burial in the Forest Grove Cemetery will immediately follow the service and a reception welcoming everyone will take place at the hall after.
Donations to Fischer Place, care of the South Cariboo Health Foundation will be greatly appreciated.
Cariboo-Chilcotin Funeral Services
entrusted with the arrangements.
Condolences can be sent to the family care of cariboochilcotinfuneralservice@gmail.com