Jean Keery
Long-time Boston Bar resident Jean Keery died on March 2, 2017 in a Kelowna nursing home. She was born Charlotte Jean Watkins in Vancouver in 1927 and trained as a registered nurse at St. Paul’s hospital after graduating from John Oliver High School. In 1951 she married Clare Keery who was from Cloverdale. Shortly after the wedding they moved to Boston Bar where Clare operated a sawmill with his father Leslie (Bud) Keery. They played a key role in founding Fraser Canyon Baptist Church and raised five children. After Clare died in 1992 Jean stayed in the family house and continued to be active in the church and community. In 2004 she sold and moved to Kelowna to be near her sons Lorne (Nancy) and John (Julia) and grandchildren. Family members were able to visit her almost daily during her last year at Springvalley Care Centre.
She is survived by her brother Richard (Dick) Watkins of White Rock, daughter Janet (Fredy) who lives in Guatemala, sons Roger (Judy) of White Rock and Scott (Cindy) of Chilliwack, 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She was predeceased by her sister Carol (Hank) Hendry in 2006.
Jean was always concerned about people, maintaining contact with almost every family she had known and worked with in the church and community in Boston Bar from the 1950's until her last few years in Kelowna. Her family and friends will sorely miss her care and concern for them.
A Memorial Service for Jean will be held at 3 pm Saturday March 25 at Providence Baptist Church (formerly Guisachan), 2210 Stillingfleet St. in Kelowna. Gifts in her name can be made to Kelowna Gospel Mission and the Christian Blind Mission Canada.