Barbara Louise McKelvie

On the evening of February 26th, in the brief dénouement to a long and gradual decline, (Barbara) Louise McKelvie passed away quietly in the embrace of her family at Sechelt Hospital, six days after her 79th birthday.

Born and raised in Winnipeg, her life unfolded to the fond memory of her family and friends in locales like Lake Winnipeg’s Victoria Beach, McNaughton Road in Toronto, New Jersey’s Mountain Lakes, Paris, France, Vancouver, Hope, and finally, Roberts Creek on BC’s Sunshine Coast where she and husband lived in retirement.

A strikingly beautiful woman and complex person with a wicked wit, the very embodiment of Scorpio rising, Louise walked with her shadow every day of her life. A longtime Jungian, versed in astrology, and the Tarot, she was deeply intuitive, perceptive and insightful.

An eclectic professional life found her, at times, working in the investment industry, painting movie sets, managing the finances of an audio studio, even cooking for a travelling circus. She loved to recall how she’d been the only one she knew who’d actually run away to join the circus.

A talented poet and painter, a dedicated cinephile devoted to the arts, she was a stalwart supporter of the Gibsons Public Art Gallery.

Louise was predeceased by her parents, Charles and Nettie (Murray) McKelvie, and by her former husband, Glenn Blakesley. She is survived by her husband, Blair Shakell, and by her daughter, Regan Blakesley, (who always strived to keep her mother’s face turned toward the sun); by her sisters, Heather McKelvie (with whom she briefly ran away from their Toronto home, their pockets stuffed with licorice lozenges) and Evelyn McKelvie (with whom she shared a bunkbed in their youth and later an apartment, where suitors suggested their door should be locked from the outside); by her brothers and family, David and Karen (Skidmore) McKelvie, and Stuart and Susan (Fenton) McKelvie; by her nieces and nephews: Amos Buriak, Colin and Blair Aspinall, Jessica (McKelvie) Lohse, Ian McKelvie, Meaghan Orlinski, and Aaron McKelvie. Louise is also survived by her many cousins: in Alberta, Carolyn and Chris Murray, and Sue Scully; in Manitoba, Gary, Bill, and Rob Kennedy; in Ontario, Dale (Kennedy) Bedard, and Richard Murray; and in Hawaii, Eona Murray. Louise is remembered fondly by her many friends from childhood, from Kelvin High School, and from United College.

The family wishes to thank Drs. Nortje, McCall and Lindenberg, and the nursing staff of Sechelt Hospital: Megan, Kylie, T.J., Lovely, Hanna and Elleni, who cared so well for Louise during her final days. We also wish to recognize the loving dedication and meticulous care given by her devoted daughter.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Gibsons Public Art Gallery.

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