August 13, 1945 – July 24, 2026 

Kathleen left us on July 24, 2026, as she lived, gently and quietly. She was certainly welcomed home and embraced with love by her family and friends who have gone before her. She remains close in spirit to her family and friends remaining here which includes her special friend Harold, her children Sherie (Darcy), Brent and Brad, her grandchildren Caitlin and Bryan (Myrna), Angeline and Madison, her bonus grandchildren Cassie, Sarah, Emily, Darshae and Ayden, her sisters and many adored nieces, nephews and friends. 

Kathleen was born in Edson, Alberta to the Payne family of two brothers and six sisters. At just 21 years old she was a wife and mother, running a home and caring for a three-year-old, an 11-month-old and a newborn baby. She made wonderful homecooked meals, canned fruits and vegetables, baked bread, cinnamon buns, whipped shortbread cookies and many other treats from scratch. One of everyone’s favourites was Tomato Soup Cake with Caramel Icing. They may have been too young to recognize those blessings then but can now appreciate the gifts of a stay-at-home mom and her labours of love. Kathleen was also a foster parent, providing love and safety and advocacy to many more children. 

Her tiny, delicate stature and her incredible determination, strength and resilience was such a paradox. Tiny but tough! Courage is not the absence of fear. It is action in spite of fear. In spite of her fear of flying and her fear of water, Kathleen took a job at River’s Inlet, a remote fishing camp on a barge on the ocean that required her to fly in on a small twin engine plane and land on the water just to get to work! She was brave! 

Kathleen was a shy and private person, so there may be things about her that some people may not know. She was a poet and made beautiful stained glass. She loved to sing and performed an entertaining Mick Jagger impersonation. 

“People will forget what you said and what you did but they never forget how you made them feel.” Kathleen’s superpower was her ability to be present and hold space for people. Her legacy will live on in all her loved ones who felt seen and heard and held by her. 

To honor and keep Kathleen’s spirit close, be brave and do things that might scare you. Sing and create things. Bake a tomato soup cake. Most importantly, see, hear and hold your loved ones. Thank you, Kathleen, for showing us what love looks like. 

A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. in the Kamloops Funeral Home at 285 Fortune Dr., Kamloops, B.C. V2B 2H7. 

Our deepest gratitude to Dr. Ferrell, Donalda and the Marjorie Willoughby Hospice. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Marjorie Willoughby Hospice at 72 Whiteshield Cres., Kamloops, B.C. V2E 2S9. 

You may offer a message of condolence at Kamloops Funeral Home for the Larson family.

• Date : 2026-07-24
• Location : Kamloops