Obituary of Kathy Philpot

Obituary Obituary for Kathy (Kathleen Margaret) Philpot 11 May 1949 to 14 March 2015 Born in Medicine Hat, Alberta to Theresa and Tom Hayduck, Kathy was the second of three children. She moved with her family to Creston, B.C. at age nine. Subsequently, she advanced to the University of Victoria where she received her Bachelor of Education degree in 1971. From 1971 until her retirement in 2007, Kathy taught in various positions and schools in SD 60. Her final 12 years were in administration. She is predeceased by her parents and her brother Pat. She is survived by husband Jack, son Duncan, daughter-in-law Katherine and her sister Barbara. Kathy and Jack met at a dance on campus at UVic in September 1968 and have been together ever since. They were married in Terrace on the 22nd of August 1970 while holding down summer jobs to pay the next year's tuition and living expenses. Kathy was an incredibly multi-faceted person. Only a select few close friends got to see or know her full personality. Her work, her family and her personal interests were effectively compartmentalized. On the job, she was a superb classroom teacher, always at the cutting edge of her profession, never settling for the status quo. When an opportunity came to jump from the classroom into the role of Faculty Associate (SFU) in the AHCOTE program she seized the opportunity to demonstrate her mastery of teaching by sharing her skills with her aspiring student teachers. It was a natural move for her to become an administrator after her stint in AHCOTE. Her first posting was at Alwin Holland, followed by Charlie Lake and Prespatou before completing her career as the Principal at Alwin Holland. Kathy was seen as the defender of the weak, and the scourge of bullies. In a nutshell, she made her workplace safe for children and for teachers. She took pride in never having a discipline issue advance beyond her desk to the district level. Always at work early, she did the most difficult tasks first ... She lived in the first quadrant, even before Covey came to town. Kathy's garden was her sanctuary. She didn't rave about its beauty but the lawns and flower beds were her summer artistry and pleasure for over forty years. In the winter the bird feeders were always full and the deer were not begrudged their share of the roses or the thyme. She did put her foot down when they chewed the apple trees, however. She loved animals. Dogs, cats, deer, bears and birds of all kinds were important in her daily life. After retirement in 2007, she and husband Jack, would entertain themselves with long drives on the back roads of the Peace River country enjoying the changing seasons while they searched for new vistas. She loved the view to the north towards the Peace on the approach to Spirit River. She knew every crop in every field and delighted in watching fields grow and ripen into harvesting. Along the way there would be stops to watch flocks of Canada Geese and Trumpeter Swans. Eagles and hawks were recorded in her journal as well as coyotes and foxes. She could identify White Tails or Mule Deer instantly from long range. The massive swans were probably her favorites. Sometimes those day trips would run more than twelve hours. The lunches she would pack were legendary. Eating would begin early and run all day with the treat at the end of the trip a feast of bacon and eggs. No weight was lost on those day trip adventures. Kathy hunted museums. Especially those in small rural communities like Hines Creek or Manning or Hudson's Hope. She was fascinated by the Peace Country and founds books to satisfy her appetite for the history of the region at every stop. The museum in Fort St. John yielded multiple treasures in that regard. The Peace River Valley and the Hudson's Hope highway were her joy. From the first leaves in May to the vibrant colour changes in August and September, all were part of the rhythm of her life. The annual George Butts classic car poker run to Hudson's Hope each year was a highlight. She loved riding with Holly Summer in the black Camaro convertible with the top down. The wind blowing her hair made the Valley even more special. Tom DeWetter came by once in 2013 after the poker run to take her for a ride in his classic Corvette Sting Ray. She talked about that short run for months afterwards. When husband Jack was busy promoting country music concerts Kathy would contribute by being the personal driver for the various performers. Pam Tillis gave her a beautiful scarf after they spent an afternoon together shopping and making small talk about their children. She treasured that gift. Perhaps one of Kathy's most underappreciated attributes was her gift for "the gift." She always seemed to know exactly what would be appreciated most. Usually something simple, her gifts were always memorable. Her niece in New Zealand remembers a silver locket Kathy gave her when she was ten. She still has it nearly forty years later and can relate the story without hesitation. Although she hardly mentioned it, Kathy was immensely proud of the character and accomplishments of her son Duncan (PhD Candidate at the University of New Brunswick) and of his wife Katherine Liong (PhD Edinburgh). In many ways it was clear to those close to her that she regarded Duncan as her own most outstanding achievement and that Katherine was the completion of that work. After retirement from SD 60, Kathy threw herself into organizing Jack's business. The ensuing partnership was very successful. Always his best friend, she became even more of a mentor and guide as they grew the business together. Kathy's battle with Lung Cancer was short but vigorous. Virtually until her final three days she was active, pain free and happy with life. The family would like to thank Dr. Temple and the nurses in the chemotherapy clinic, especially Colleen Skinner and Shelley March, for their kindness and care. Kathy will be forever grateful to Rob and Susan Clayton for providing a safe haven while receiving radiation treatments at the Cancer Clinic in Kelowna in December. Liz Edinger played a similar role in Vancouver while Kathy underwent testing at the B.C. Cancer Agency. Thank you, as well, to Dr. Watt for providing a lifetime of care which included the arrival of Duncan on the first day of Spring 1983. Additionally, the EMS team and ER Dr. Lukas Brand and his team of nurses who worked feverishly to save her are to be commended for their extraordinary efforts on Kathy's behalf. Kathy will be cremated. There will be no funeral service, according to her wishes. In lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy can be made in memory of Kathy to the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation. Services