DROUGHT, Kate Noreen Rutherford “Kitty”
September 13, 1925 — December 16, 2019
Kitty was born in Kelowna, BC to Charles and Pearl Dain and was a granddaughter of Henry William Raymer, the first mayor of Kelowna. She spent almost all her life on her family’s Westside farm. Her parents instilled in her a love for the land and for all animals, and she remained devoted to her home and the animals who shared it. Home and family were Kitty’s mainstay and she shared a very close bond with her sister, Doris. The two sisters and their families lived on adjacent tracts of the family farm, saw each other almost daily and spent countless happy occasions together.
After attending UBC and teaching high school, Kitty met and married her husband, Robin Drought, and they spent their first years together in Westbank, continuing to run Robin’s General Store. The Droughts warmly welcomed Kitty into the family and over the years she became ‘Mum’ and ‘Grammy’ to her four children, Jennifer Drought (Glenn), Brian Drought, Lorraine (Michael) Trudgian, and Sharon (Bill) Harrison and her nine grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. Kitty could always be depended upon to listen, offer gentle advice and a cup of tea, and in turn, the family was always there to give Kitty a hand when needed.
When Kitty and Robin sold the store, they moved back to Kitty’s old home to help Mr. and Mrs. Dain run the orchard. Robin enjoyed travel and encouraged Kitty out on adventures and while they did enjoy a few trips, Kitty was always happiest at home. Over time she and Robin planted more fruit trees and developed the peach orchard into a home-based business. Kitty was loved by people and known throughout the valley as “The Peach Lady” and every year, including this past one, saw Kitty out on “the stoop” catching up on the news with friends and neighbours, never too busy to listen to their goings-on while weighing their fruit order and often putting in an extra peach “to eat on the way”!
Sadly, after 52 years together, Kitty lost Robin in 2011. Kitty and her daughter Jennifer kept the farm going and every summer faithfully, family, good neighbours, and sometimes new acquaintances (soon to be friends), would show up to continue to help with the peach season. They came because they loved and respected Kitty and wanted to support and encourage her as she always did them. She will be missed by all.
The family is very grateful for the medical care Kitty received. In keeping with her wishes there will be no memorial service. A private family gathering, to honour Kitty’s life, will be held at her home where she has lived most of her life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the ALS Society, www.als.ca, or the SPCA, spca.bc.ca, in her memory.
A life well lived is a life well loved
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of DROUGHT Kate Noreen Rutherford “Kitty September 13 1925 — December 16 2019..
Death notice for the town of: Kelowna, Province: Colombie britanique