Obituary of Kathleen Anne Baynes

On August 7th, 2009, Kathleen Anne (Kerr) Baynes put her hand into the hand of Jesus and stepped out of this life into the next.

Left to mourn her passing and rejoice at the great blessing of having been part of her life are her husband, Frank and her children Mariam (Larry), Valorie (Owen), Charlotte (Bill), Donna (Rob), Kenneth (Qian) and Cynthia (Gary), 13 grandchildren and a great grand-daughter. She is also survived, and missed, by her brother, Kenneth Kerr of Edmonton, AB and his family and her sister, Doreen Waugh of Bashaw, AB and her family.

Hers was a wonderful example of a life dedicated to serving Jesus. Kathleen was born on December 26, 1925 in Nevis, Alberta. The circumstances of her childhood prevented her from completing her formal education but in her mid-twenties she attended a North Battleford SK bible school where she met Frank. They married in 1952 and moved to Cranbrook in 1956 when he accepted a teaching position at Mt. Baker Secondary.

Kay was lively and involved, singing in the community choir, volunteering at Praise Fellowship Christian School, working as a home support worker and sharing her gift of song at Joseph's Creek Lodge. It is widely agreed that the heavenly choirs will benefit greatly by her arrival. The Graces were visited upon her liberally; she was known for her hospitality, generosity, sense of humour and the ability to see the good in everyone she met. Her heart for the plight of the poor in developing countries took her on mission trips to Africa, Peru, the Philippines, Mexico and Costa Rica. When travel was no longer possible she spent much of her time helping prepare boxes of clothing and household items for shipment to these countries. She was an inveterate gardener and at various times a beekeeper, lapidarist, craftswoman, genealogist and painter. Above all, she was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, mother-in-law and sister as well as a dear friend to many. She is sorely missed.

A celebration of her life will be held at the Cranbrook Alliance Church, 1200 Kootenay Street North at 2:00 PM on Friday, August 21, 2009. In lieu of flowers, donations to Columbia Para Cristo Society, 12629 248th Street, Maple Ridge, BC, V4R 1K4 to support the overseas ministry to which she gave so much of her time would be greatly appreciated.