Kathleen Mary McMullin

Kathleen [“Kay”] Mary McMullin was born in Fort Mcleod, Alberta. She was the only child of Anastasia and Douglas {“Archie”} Newcomb. She was the mother of Amber Kitzler (nee Veysey), Craig Veysey, Charles {“Chas.”} Veysey, and the grandmother of Sage Kitzler, Leda Kitzler and in Toronto, Kaley Veysey Wolfe and Quinn Veysey.

Her professional career included teaching public school in the Kootenays; administrative work with the Peninsula Community Association and the Personnel Department of Camosun College. She was the Personal Secretary to a leading Provincial Government Cabinet Minister. Her last professional position was Secretary to the Director of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.

Kathleen was co-founder of the Support Society for Injured Workers. She was on the Boards of various community organizations, most recently the Sidney Community Association. She was a co-founder of “Wear 2 Start”, a unique organization that offers professional wardrobe selection, plus presentation guidance to disadvantaged women seeking employment and facing job interviews. Wear 2 Start is now in its twentieth year.

In 2003, at Victoria’s Royal Theatre, Kathleen was honoured with their Lifetime Achievement Award by the Women of Distinction Council of the Greater Victoria YM-YWCA.

Kathleen made many gardens. She always left her various homes more beautiful than she had found them. She has spent the last thirty years as the fascinating partner of the very lucky Jon Blair. They had many adventures together, all the way from Nuremberg to Okotoks. They have had a splendid conversation that has continued all this time, accompanied by both laughter and the odd streak of righteous indignation. They have been supported by a superb circle of loving family members and stimulating friends. Kathleen insisted on acknowledging here how much all of them have meant to her happiness and how much they have enriched her long and vigorous life.

Kathleen McMullin accepted Life as it came, even with physical pain a constant burden. She was a generous person, with a contempt for meanness and pretension. She lived with calm and resolve, plus plenty of laughter. How we will manage to press on—without her—is a mystery.