Pennies From Heaven

Jacqua Rita Pratt

Rita Pratt (née Howard), born 1938, sadly passed away 2023 in Kamloops after a brief been an educator but many remember that she was the the children’s circus “Cirkids”. also vested in the musical dustry, spending many working at the Wildhorse Theatre in Fort Steele. early retirement and spent many years in Mexico and Ontario before returning to her home town of Kamloops.

Predeceased by her parents Desmond and Ruby Howard, survived by her daughter Zoe Pratt, her sister Grant and her good friend Heather Grant as well as many friends in BC, Ontario and Mexico.

Russell "Rusty" McRae

May 5, 1969 - June 29, 2023 predeceased by his dad, Frank “Red” McRae in also leaves behind his mom, Barb McRae, and rrie (Brent) Hamilton, Barbi (Terry) Yakubowich, e Jr., Misti Rode, Dori McRae (Eron) & Jodi His numerous nieces and nephews Dustin Hamilton, Halina (Dainen) Patenaude, Danica akubowich, Brianna Schellenberg (Ryen), Kaylin Schellenberg, Scarlett Wright, Lilliana Wright, Carter Foss & Also, the nieces and nephews he stood in as a for from the time they were very little Payden aylor), Wyatt Rode & Kealee Rode. his close friends were also family He leaves behind Jenny Sharp, Helene Gagnon, Patty Fayant, Mike Dillman, Colin McGaffin, Mike Haertel, Chris Newton and so many more. You were all family to him and we thank you, we apologize for anyone we missed.

Russell “Rusty” McRae passed away peacefully at Royal Inland Hospital on June 29, 2023 after a courageous battle with Amyloidosis type AL, a rare disease.

In true energetic Rusty fashion, he lived doing things he loved right until his last breath. He attended the Memorial Cup final game, he spent time on a friends boat and down the Thompson River, he attended family all while in hospice. He leaves behind his children cRae, Katelyn McRae (Dalton) & Kody McRae as well as his step-daughters Avi Brown (Anthony) Somerville (Mitchell), his grandchildren Emma, ren & Cassien.

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A celebration of life for Rusty was held on Saturday, July 8, 2023.

Eleanor Katherine (Kay) Schimpf

April 8, 1937 - June 27, 2023

It is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of Eleanor Katherine Schimpf, or as everyone knew her, Kay, on June 27, 2023 at the age of 86.

Kay was predeceased by her husband of 64 years, Tony Schimpf, parents Bill & Edith Davidson, and sister Wilma, and is survived by her sister Lorraine.

She is lovingly remembered by her children Janet (Jeff) and Keith (Barb), grandchildren Chase (Alanna), Thea (Elijah), Ryan (Sherry), Graham, and Lance (Brianne), several greatgrandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Born in Kamloops, Kay was raised in Beresford on the family farm. In 1954, Kay, then known as Katie Davidson, presented her grand champion steer at the Kamloops and BC 4H competitions, winning the provincial crown and representing BC in the national competition in Toronto. She always had a way with animals, and loved riding horses and chasing cows on her uncle’s ranch in Campbell Creek. In 1955, Kay graduated from Kam High, an impressive feat considering that she missed many days of school in the fall, harvesting the family crops, and in winter, being snowed-in up in Beresford. Soon after graduation, in 1957, Kay began working at Chapman’s Transport, where she met her future husband Tony They were married on October 11, 1958 and soon started a family in Brocklehurst.

Things were tight in the early years as Kay honed her cooking & homemaking skills. Her plentiful garden and abundant fruit trees allowed her to stock the pantry with fruits, vegetables, and preserves, while the root cellar (which she dug herself), kept root vegetables fresh nearly year-round. She soon mastered baking bread, pies, and cookies, which always had the neighbour kids pressed against the screen door pleading for a bite. Her masterful sewing skills allowed her to fashion and mend her husband and children’s clothes, while her background on the farm gave her the strong stomach to become the neighbourhood’s doctor Someone was always getting bandaged by the bathroom sink.