Jonesey Louis

Jonesey, named Judith Ann by parents George Henry Northan and Irene Mae Northan (nee Barker), was born in Port Arthur, Ontario. The family moved to the BC Okanagan when Jonesey was three.  She grew up in Kelowna and spoke of long summer days at the lake, swimming and jumping off the diving tower, and switching high school classes with her identical twin sister, Jill.  

Jonesey married Lyle McKenzie in a double wedding with sister, Jill and brother-in-law Neil Stables, on July 4th, 1959. The newlyweds headed out East as Lyle had joined the airforce.  Sons Farley (1960) and Frazer (1961) were born in Trenton, Ontario, and daughter Allison (1963) in St. Boniface, Manitoba.  The family returned to Kelowna in 1964, moved to Winfield in 1967, then to Richmond in 1976, and to Dawson Creek in 1978 where, within a few years, the children left the nest.  The empty nesters moved to Tumbler Ridge for a few years before Jonesey returned to Dawson Creek where she lived until moving to Grovedale, Alberta in 2001.  In 2007, Jonesey made Smithers her home.  

While Jonesey had many jobs throughout her life: fruit picker, retail worker, waitress, camper factory worker, regional district employee, RCMP matron, First Aid attendant, mine security, seamstress and more, Jonesey’s life long passions were art work and quilting.  She did have several college art courses and took some workshops along the way, but for the most part, Jonesey was self-taught – working from books, experiments and experience.  Jonesey primarily enjoyed drawing and painting, but she also did pottery, silk screening and beading. Creating quilts and quilted art pieces was Jonesey’s special talent.  She had an eye for colour and incredible skills and creativity.  Jonesey also loved to cook and was always learning about food and new methods of food preparation along with new recipes.   Jonesey was a dog person and many special dogs were part of the home over the years, most recently Babiche and Lishka.  Jonesey was interested in so many things and remained a life-long and curious learner. 

Jonesey loved her family.  She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law of Smithers, her daughter Allison (Zane) Michel of Dawson Creek, daughter-in-law Maureen McKenzie of Edmonton, elder sister Marlene Ching of Penticton, and younger sister Sharron (Richard) Bruggman of Wenatchee, Washington.  Jonesey leaves behind grandchildren Kieran (Jenny), Heath (Marianita) and Shea McKenzie, Justin (Tanya), Kristen (Greg), Ivan (Kiera), Sarah (Brad), and Tanya (Francis) Michel, and Madison (Kevin) and Callum McKenzie.  Jonesey was predeceased by her son, Farley (2004), and sister, Jill (2009).

Donations in Jonesey's name appreciated to the Salvation Army in Smithers.  

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