Elizabeth Ann Earl

We celebrate the life of Elizabeth (Liz) Earl who passed away peacefully on June 9th, 2026. Liz lived with unmistakable moxie — a spirited boldness that carried her into every new experience with joy and confidence.

Driven by curiosity, Liz built her life exploring new horizons. A focused creative spirit carried her from nursing through accounting to painting, as she embraced life with curiosity, passion, and energy. Creativity was truly at the centre of who she was, and she sparkled with a natural flair and a unique sense of style that made her unmistakably herself. Her portraits — painted with care and a keen eye for the people she loved — hang in the homes of family members to this day, quiet testaments to her gift and her eye for the people she loved.

Liz grew up in New Brunswick, shaped by the warmth of Maritime life and the fond memories of summers at the family cottage at Sand Point. As the only child of Don and Harriet Stratton, Liz grew into a person of strong will, meeting each day with drive, curiosity, and a deep appreciation for diving into new pursuits.

Her working years traced a remarkable path across the country. She trained as a nurse in Saint John, New Brunswick, and went on to practice in Kingston, Ontario, and Edmonton, Alberta. She then returned to school in London, Ontario, to qualify as a Chartered Accountant, and built her accounting career in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Each chapter revealed her ability to learn, adapt, and give herself fully to whatever she turned her hand to. It was after the move to Kelowna, British Columbia, that she picked up the paintbrush in earnest — and in doing so, found the fullest expression of who she had always been.

Liz loved to dance, and in the past year she looked forward each week to Friday dances at the Vineyards, arriving with the same spirit and joy she brought to everything. She also loved to sing. Always careful with her resources, Liz was practical, while being creative, and always mindful of what truly mattered. She found peace in her garden, tending to their landscape in Lake Country with the same creativity she used to approach the world.

Liz and Al met in Kingston, Ontario, where he was studying at Queen's University and she was working as a nurse. For 62 years, they shared a life defined by partnership — raising their family, supporting one another's ambitions, and embracing the world with curiosity and courage. From London to Winnipeg to the Okanagan, Liz and Al built homes filled with ambition and artistry. Together they raised Kelly, Robert, and Graham with patience and devotion, and later became Nana and Gampy to their grandchildren — Kyle, Emily, Isaac, Joshua, and Abigail — and her great-granddaughter, Vivian. In a moment that speaks to the kind of woman she was, she spent her final day surrounded by family, celebrating Abigail's high school graduation.

Travel was one of Liz's greatest pleasures. She and Al explored Europe and Asia and spent many winters in the coastal community of Lo de Marcos, where friendships grew easily around shared experiences and long conversations. Summers often brought her back to the Maritimes, where she reconnected with family, including Jimmy MacMillan and Gwen Guitard, Sheila Jack, Marilyn Bush, Alison Louise MacMillan Mangione, and Carolyn and Doug Dorian, Lloyd Burbridge, and Rick Stratton along with her many extended relatives.

Liz's legacy is one of enthusiasm, creativity, and a courageous openness to start down a new path. She leaves behind a family shaped by her example, portraits on their walls, and a community enriched by her presence.

To honour her lifelong love of the arts, the family kindly requests that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be directed to the Lake Country Art Gallery. Donations may be made in her memory to the Lake Country Art Gallery, 10356A Bottom Wood Lake Road, Lake Country, BC V4V 1T9, or online at lakecountryartgallery.ca. The gallery can be reached at 250 766 1299 for further information.