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Muriel Arlene (Kitty) Hartley

June 16, 2004

Heaven was graced with Muriel Arlene Hartley (Kitty) on June 16th, 2004. Kitty remained at home while she courageously fought cancer with the love and care of her family and four remarkable daughters. Her determination and spirit are a testament to a woman who has inspired and will be deeply missed by all of those who knew her.

Muriel Hartley, nee Strapps, was born on August 16th 1925 in Bury, Quebec. At the age of 17, Kitty enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy. After basic training, Muriel traveled across the country to the Victoria base, where she met her future husband, Harold Hartley, also in the navy at the time. Kitty and Harold could light up the dance floor as they danced with their own unique style and lit up one another’s lives for 58 years, marrying on January 26th, 1946.

Together their journey took them to many destinations including Maple Creek, Calgary, Delbourne, Sundry, Greenwood, Victoria, Quesnel, Goldbridge and Leo Creek. From 1965 on, Quesnel became Hartley’s home base and Kitty always felt passionate about her home and friends in Quesnel. She was a active volunteer with the Quesnel Rodeo Club and with the Reform Party.

Kitty helped raise Harold’s younger siblings, Darrel, Larry and Sheela. Together they would travel to rodeo’s across the country and she would tell animated stories about their many adventures. Her sister Evelyne Bennet and sister in law Beth Strapps came to stay with grandma from Quebec during her last days.

Muriel was a mother to her four daughters, Darlene (Ron) Rhode, Nancy (Jim) Oakes, Linda Hartley and Bridget (Miron) Croy, a friend to her grandchildren Joanne (Jeff) Snowden, Carmen (Michael) Lane, Toby (Shanna) Oakes, Coralee Oakes, Terri-Lyne (John) Anderson, Wanda (Bill) Lund and Carri-Anne (Don) Kehler. Kitty was also proud of her great-grandchildren Vanessa, Rexanna, Kylie, Darian, Delany, Nicholas, Samatha, Shelyn and Dallas. And of course we can not forget Buzz, the Hartley dog who will miss sitting with her on their special chair.

She was met at the end of her journey by her grandson Lance Croy whom had passed away two years previous, to the day, her brother Ray Strapps, sister Marguerite Timson, her mother Ella Worby, father Bill Strapps, and her in-laws who she loved dearly, Hazel and Roland Plant.

The family would like to thank Dr. Derksen and all of the nurses and home support workers for their support and comfort in Kitty’s battle with cancer. You all hold a special place in the hearts of our family.

All those who felt blessed to know Muriel “Kitty” Hartley are invited for tea at the Royal Canadian Legion on June 24th at 1:00 pm. Those wishing to honour the memory of Kitty may do so by way of donation to the Quesnel District Palliative Care Association or to the Quesnel Red Cross to purchase additional equipment to be loaned out to the community.