Kathleen Ross

Kathleen Ross, aged ninety-five, passed away peacefully on December 14th, 2020 at Luther Care Community in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan surrounded in spirit with all of her family.

Kathleen was a loving, beautiful woman inside and out. She brightened up all that knew her with her stories and lovely singing voice. Her family will remember her for the love she bestowed on them.

Kathleen Blanche McLellan was born in Coleman, Alberta on June 3, 1925, the middle daughter of five children of Donald (Dan, Mac) and Catherine (nee Sime Bell) McLellan. Kathleen’s father was a coalminer (she, a coalminer’s daughter) and her mother a seamstress. Kathleen lost her mother when she was ten years of age. As the eldest child was fifteen and the baby was one, the family had to be separated. Kathleen lived with her aunt and uncle, the baby lived with family friends. The other three children remained with their father. Despite being separated, they still maintained a close family bond which continued throughout their childhood and the rest of their lives.

As a young girl Kathleen knew of Douglas, her future husband, before he left to serve in WWII as a RCAF wireless air gunner officer. Having being discharged (honorably), he started a watch and goldsmith apprenticeship at Chalmers Jewellers in Coleman, Alberta. It was there he met the love of his life, Kathleen, who was working as a sales clerk.

Kathleen married Douglas Daniel Ross May 2, 1947 in Coleman, Alberta by Father Sullivan and witnesses John W. Ross and Margaret McLellan. Theirs was a marriage of deep love and devotion.

Kathleen and Douglas lived at the Summit Inn (The Crow) in Crowsnest, BC for three years before moving to Humboldt, SK. In July of 1950, Douglas headed east on a dirt road in his Mother’s Ford automobile to survey a jewellry store that was for sale in Humboldt. His mother gave a loan to a business partner, Bill Graham, so he and Douglas could go into business together, they called it Graham and Ross Jewellers. A few years later, Douglas and Kathleen bought Graham out and continued for thirty-four years as Ross Jewellers.

They moved to Humboldt with their two boys, William and John. Five more children were born, Marieanne, Katherine, Maureen, Douglas and Gordon. Kathleen enjoyed a full life with her husband for thirty-two years raising their seven children. They were blessed with ten grandchildren and seventeen great-children. They shared many adventures raising their family, working together in their jewellry store and travelling as a family.

Kathleen was a veracious reader, master bridge player and loved to sing and dance and was a wonderful story teller. She had a memory like a vault, she could instantly recall dates, names and places from times throughout her life. They spent many evenings and weekends attending sporting events the children played. (hockey, curling, golf, figure skating, swimming, gymnastics, 4H horse, polo, diving, baseball, just to name a few). Together they coordinated the Red Cross swimming program at Waldsea Lake through the Humboldt Lions Club for over twenty-five years.

In 1979, at aged fifty-four, Kathleen was widowed. She stayed loyal to her family and was committed to the love of her life’s memory for the rest of her life. Kathleen showed her courage and her adventurous spirit after Douglas’s passing. She enjoyed travelling at home and abroad. If there was an invitation to visit someone or attend an event, Kathleen would be there. She loved spending time with all of her family (siblings, children, grand-children and great grandchildren) and many dear friends. She also enjoyed attending numerous concerts.

Kathleen sold Ross Jewellers in 1987 and retired in Osoyoos, BC for nineteen years, then moved back to the Crowsnest Pass for seven enjoyable years, then to Saskatoon, SK to be close to her family.

Kathleen had a true love for her family, her children - William (Kathryn) of Moosejaw, John (Dawna) of Regina, Marieanne of Saskatoon, Katherine of Saskatoon, Maureen of North Vancouver, Douglas of Calgary and Gordon (Richard) of Calgary, ten grandchildren Carla (Brent), Paul (Danielle), Vanessa (Matt), Roberta (Dylan), Kendra (Richie), Barrett (Amber), Tyler (Nicole), Jillian (Brendan), John-Anthony (Dayna), Kalen (Tori). She was very proud of her seventeen great-children (Nicholas, Olivia, Isabell, Ben, Alex, Sam, Brooklyne, Cash, Nova, Hanna, Nolan, Lily, Andrew, Evangeline, Alec, Felix, Isaac and one more on the way.

Kathleen was predeceased by her siblings, Mame, Maureen, Hughie and Margaret. Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will cherish the memories of family gatherings, singing, dancing, laughing and telling stories together. Each of them knows how special they were to her.

Sincere thanks from the entire family to her wonderful team of care workers at Luther Care for their kindness and gentle care.

Also, a special thank you and appreciation to Terryellen (Dame) Jelinski for the love and care she shared with Mom.

Our family thanks Lynn Baldwin (nee Kulcycki) and Fern (nee Kulcycki) (Jim) Bearsto for their love and kindness throughout Mom’s life.

Kathleen left us with many gifts, our family will be guided by her spirit always. She leaves a legacy of love, compassion, loyalty and kindness. A life well lived.

In living memory of Kathleen and Douglas Ross, two trees will be planted in Fernie, BC, Douglas’s birth place. Kathleen and Douglas will be laid to rest at St. Margaret’s Cemetery, Fernie, BC.