Jean Inez Chapman Everard Vowel Hargrove died on Nov. 15, 2017. She was born in Coderre, Sask. in 1926, the daughter of Charles Wellington Camden Chapman and Ruth Inez Showalter Chapman.
Jean moved to Port Alberni with her family in her early years, and at age 16 went to work at the plywoods with her sisters as a "Rosie the Riveter" during World War 2. Her accomplishments include co-founding the DeCosmos art group in Parksville/Qualicum, and building a house she designed herself.
A gifted artist with truly creative spark, she painted and sketched, and wrote newspaper columns in Parksville and Cortes Island, and poetry. She was an avid reader and traveller, and journeyed to the UK, Europe, Africa and Mexico.
She was baptized as an adult, and her faith was a source of comfort to her in a life that wasn't easy; she read the Bible through in a year at age 90.
She was very proud of her children: Charlie Everard (Ellen), Barbara Bartlett (Rod), Jeri Sanford (Fran), Laurel Irving (Bill) and Jacqueline Carmichael (Gerry).
Jean would have considered her grandchildren to be her legacy: Tammie, Shelley, Marni, Christie, Donna, Mat, Ben, Peter, Emily, Robin, Dan, Ryan, Brad, Patrick, and their families.
She was predeceased by her siblings Garry, Gordon and Faith, and her husband John Frederick Hargrove.
She is survived by her sister Lois Kubersky of Edmonton and her brother Charles Chapman of Comox, as well as several nephews and nieces.
Her children are grateful to the kind staff at Rainbow Gardens, as well as the doctors who attended her over the years, for how they cared for Jean. She is missed, and she is at peace.
May the best memories warm and bring a measure of comfort.
"Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.'" Matthew 11:28