At the age of 15, Beverly McLean (Nee Mackenzie) began going with Ken, who was 17, despite the two living in different provinces, at 19 she married him and at 20 she gave birth to their daughter, Caulinda, while attending university. In that short time, she attended 3 universities: starting at her home UBC, following Ken to Saskatchewan and Toronto, where she obtained a Batchelor of Science and, later back at UBC, a Batchelor of Education. She taught math in Burnaby high schools and, for over 20 years, at the Youth Detention Center (juvenile prison).
Bev was a top student in school and university and applied her work ethic to all aspects of her life. Her quick wit was the source both scorn and humour: “you already have a Ph.D. in lessons learned from your mistakes.” She was an expert seamstress sewing her graduation and wedding gowns and numerous costumes for Caulinda’s early stage and baton career. Her gardening course led to a yard full of colourful plants, compost boxes and the dreaded, by some, annual spreading of compost. She was a great cook with an extensive library of cookbooks. In the first year in Toronto, she prepared, for their U of S classmates who could not go home, a large Christmas turkey dinner with all the trimmings including appetizers like cheese fondue, a tradition she maintained. She was an organized and involved mother to her daughter and sons, Kevin and Bryan. She was a brownie, beaver, cub and Sunday school leader as well as actively involved in the management of the children’s sports. She worked hard to ensure each child was exposed to a well-rounded upbringing resulting in Caulinda’s success in dancing, baton and ringette, Kevin winning a piano recital leading to his various rock bands and Bryan winning scholarships and excelling in sports. She meticulously planned annual vacations to China, Egypt, various countries in Europe and South America as well as several states and cities in the US. All her trips were action packed with no time wasted. She managed the Mackenzie Shack on Lake Erroch on behalf of her siblings and their descendants. Bev was a very nice person who was much too considerate of others.
Cancer ended Bev’s 58-year life journey with Ken and her family. She is survived by Caulinda (Wade, grandchildren Kyle and Jenna), Kevin (Sarah) and Bryan (Rashida, grandchildren Jaxson and Jolene) as well as her siblings Dianne, Jim and Don. She was predeceased by brothers Doug and Bill and parents Beryl and Colin.
In lieu of a funeral service, there will be a family spreading of her ashes at Rosen Lake where she met Ken and spent many happy summer and not so happy (too cold) winter vacations.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.firstmemorialnorthvancouver.com for the McLean family.
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