Kerry Lee Yamkowy

It is with profound sadness that we announce that Kerry passed away peacefully on April 9th in her 76 year after a beautiful journey well lived. She had bravely endured the increasingly debilitating symptoms of ALS over the last six months.

She was born in Dawson Creek, BC on January 17, 1949. She left home at a young age for Vancouver and decide to return to finish her education where she met her husband of 56 year. She was a wife to Don, a mother to Craig in Yellowknife, NT, Jason in Nanaimo, BC and a grandmother to Lexi in London, Ont. Always a cat lover, she leaves her two cats Lacy and Bobby and sisters, Linda in Stump Lake, BC, Lynnette in Ft Nelson, BC and brother Randy in Indiana, USA.

Kerry was strong, vivacious, and determined with success as a Potter, an Artist, a Jewelry De­ signer, a Telephone operator, a Legal Receptionist, a Sales Manager, a Travel Agent, a Relater, and a Property Developer, before becoming a successful businesswoman.

Within a year after marrying Don, in Dawson Creek, his career resulted in relocations to Edmonton, AB, Hay River, NT, lnuvik, NT, Ft Nelson, BC, Whitehorse, YT, and Yellowknife, NT. Each of these moves meant Kerry had to adapt to many challenges and opportunities, each one she embraced. She started and operated American Express/Key West Travel, Secrets Lingerie, and then purchasing Sashas Jewelry in Yellowknife, NT and finally creating and operating Lexi Diamonds and Gifts in Nanaimo, BC. A retirement move to Vancouver Island {Parksville and Nanaimo) followed with the continuation of 20 plus years wintering with the Yellowknife Snow­ birds, and her Palm Springs second home.

She loved the outdoors, and with the previous training provide by her father, who was an early Canadian Ranger on the Alaska Highway, she enjoyed camping, hiking, shooting, fishing, boating, and hunting. She was someone you wish you were with if you were ever lost in the bush.

As a true Northern Renaissance Lady, she felt very comfortable whether swimming and fishing in the Arctic, kayaking in Tahiti, canoeing and fishing on the Amazon River, learning Tile making in Morocco, river cruising in France or renovating various properties she owned, meeting aboriginal elders for tea in a tent on Great Slave Lake, hosting Mud Baths numerous cocktail parties or having lunch with Queen Elizabeth.

Thanks to her physicians, the ALS Society, the respiratory support from Island Health, the Oceanside Hospice for their support and care she received during her journey. And thank you to all the friends and family and expressly her niece Amy, who let her know through their actions and words that meant she was dear to them.

A celebration of Life with the spreading of ashes will be conducted in Yellowknife and Palm Spring later in the year.