Bar Gregson, the third of six children born to Arthur and Amy Claxton of Kamloops passed away peacefully in Royal Inland Hospital with her family at her side.
She was predeceased by all her siblings, and by her husband Jack in 2006.
Bar was born in Kamloops, back when it was a town of 5,000 and just about everyone knew everyone else. She still remembered who 'belonged' to all the old dwellings in the West End where she grew up. After completing high school at Allan Mathews she graduated from St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver in 1937 and returned to Kamloops to nurse after training at Tranquille Sanatorium where she met her future husband Jack. She was in England in 1939 when Jack, who could stand her absence no longer, wired her asking her to return home, as war with Hitler was imminent. She caught the last liner embarking from England before hostilities broke out and Jack intercepted her train in Salmon Arm. They were married two days later on May 23rd, 1939.
Bar gave up her nursing career to help Jack with this entomological pursuits and together they traveled much of the world in pursuit of 'bugs', mountains and exotic places, and together they created an oasis from a patch of tumbleweed on the bend in the river - 'Grenehalghe', where they raised their five kids. From these issued nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren, all of whom, with the exception of one, were 'home' for Christmas just weeks ago. It was a happy occasion without a hint of her abrupt passing this short time later.
She will be greatly missed by John, Sandra (Merv), Petrina (Sandy), Sally (David) & Ian (Jenny), their children and grandchildren and numerous nephews & nieces.
Bar & Jack were until recently very active in the Kamloops Outdoor Club, and Bar continued her association with her PEO, the Kamloops Garden Club and the Naturalist Club after Jack's death. She took great pride in her flower garden and sharing the bounty from her large vegetable garden. (Her last wish before passing was that John dig up the parsnips that were wintering in the 'veggie' garden).
E Davie Fulton
George Henderson
Robin Kendall
Katherine MacAlister
Katherine Yorston
Sylvia MacKinnon
Sylvia Trestain
Brenda Moffatt
Brenda Mayson
Janet Richmond
Teddy Wey
Frances Wrightson
Frances Wright Frances is also in the Kam High Staff List
Frances Mary Wrightson passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on December 25, 2017.
Frances lived a remarkable life during her nearly 102 years. She was born in England during World War I as her father fought with the Canadian Army for Britain. The family returned to Canada where Frances grew up on a rural homestead near Kamloops, British Columbia, where her father had been given rural acreage due to his service in the army.
Frances only began formal schooling at the age of nine when the family moved into Kamloops. After graduating from high school in three years, she attended the University of British Columbia on scholarship, receiving a first-class honors Bachelor's degree in chemistry and mathematics and a M.A. in chemistry.
In 1941 Frances became the fourth woman to receive a Ph.D. in chemistry from Stanford University. It was at Stanford where Frances met and married a fellow chemistry graduate student, John M. Wrightson. The young couple moved to New York for John to obtain his doctorate at Cornell University while Frances taught at Wells College.
During World War II, she became first woman to complete the Harvard Radar Program and installed and calibrated radar on B17 bombers. After the war, they both joined the M.W. Kellogg Company to conduct chemical research and development.
Frances and John returned to California as John began a career in the aerospace industry, first in Southern California where Frances' three children were born, and then in Carmichael when John began work at Aerojet. Frances raised her three children and began her teaching career in the Physics Department at Sacramento State University. She did not retire until she was 80 years old.
In retirement, Frances was a very active volunteer who assumed leadership roles in community planning committees and hospice organizations. She was also active in St. Francis Episcopal Church in Fair Oaks, where she applied her gardening passion and expertise in designing and maintaining the church landscaping. Frances also enjoyed her home garden, sports, her beloved dogs, and visiting family and friends in Canada and England. She is survived by her children, Mary Wrightson, Maud Hinchee, and Jack Wrightson, and three grandchildren, Kathryn Hinchee-Rodriguez, Cole Wrightson, and Kendall Wrightson.
