Dr Kay Garner died peacefully at her home in Gillies Bay on Texada Island in the company of her family.

She graduated with a degree in medicine from the University of Manitoba in 1942 and interned at Vancouver General Hospital, then practised in Vancouver until 1969. Kay was renowned for her expertise in obstetrics and in fact delivered me 60 years ago. She became my inspiration to enter into a career in medicine.

In 1969, Kay moved to Texada Island and continued to practise at the Texada Medical Clinic until 1988. Her practice was varied and busy as she was the only physician on Texada Island. It entailed 24-hour call and she never failed to respond to night and weekend emergencies. The only saving grace was that she didn’t have to practise obstetrics.

Dr Garner was one of the groundbreaking female GP/obstetricians in Vancouver and became a pillar of the community on Texada Island when she moved there, participating in many activities. She was instrumental in establishing one of the regional parks on Texada Island (Shelter Point Park)—a stunning spit of sandy beach adjoining a rugged island overlooking Georgia Strait and Vancouver Island. This will be a fitting legacy to her hard work and excellent care over her 45 years of medical practice.

Kay was predeceased by her husband, Cecil, in 1979, and is survived by her son, Bernard (Allison), and daughter, Francis.

—W.H. Barclay, MD
Powell River