CATES, Betty Anne (née Noullet)

May 11, 1932 — May 17, 2025

Betty Anne (also known as BA to her friends) was born May 11, 1932, in Edmonton, AB, to Jasper parents Peter and Stevie Noullet. Her younger sister Joyce arrived four years later. They enjoyed a very special relationship, as close as any two sisters could ever be, and remained so throughout their lives.

Betty Anne grew up in Jasper, AB, living in houses her father built; first on the corner of Larch and Geike St., and later in the big white house on the corner of Hazel and Patricia Street. Her father, Pete Noullet, owned and operated many different businesses in Jasper, notably the Shell gas station and Jasper Park Tours.

Growing up, Betty Anne enjoyed all of the activities that come with life in a beautiful mountain community. Summers were often spent riding horses from “the pony barns” at the foot of Pyramid Rd., and swimming at Lakes Edith and Annette. The winter months were all about figure skating with the Jasper Silver Blades Club, planning and rehearsing for the celebrated Jasper Winter Carnival, and skiing from town out along the Miette River to the old, original Whistler Ski Hill.

When she was 17, Betty Ann went off to Mount Royal Girls College in Calgary, AB. She lived in residence and completed her first year of grade 12, then returned to Jasper to complete her second (matriculation) year, graduating from high school in Jasper in 1950. In the Spring of 1951, she enrolled in the nursing program at the Royal Alexandria Hospital in Edmonton. She graduated and was licenced as a Registered Nurse in the Spring of 1954.

During her last year of training and while on a visit home to Jasper, she met Larry Cates, who was employed by her father at the Shell station. They quickly fell for each other, were married in December 1954 and bought the shell station from her father a short time later. Son Micheal was born in 1958, Douglas in 1959, and Peter in 1967. The Cates family lived in a small bungalow on Turret Street.

Throughout these early married years, Betty Anne worked part-time in the Rowed and O’Neil photography shop, and then at the Seton Hospital. Through the early 1960’s Betty Anne continued to be involved with the Silver Blades Club, helping to teach figure skating and making costumes. The Jasper Ski Club became an increasingly important part of Betty Anne and Larry’s lives; they helped to build the day lodge and poma lift at Whistler and were involved with many of the Club’s activities – including the elegant “Snow Ball” held in the lodge every winter.

In October 1969, the Cates’s moved to Kamloops, BC. Betty Anne worked as a Practical Nurse at the Royal Inland Hospital. In 1973, the family moved to Kelowna, BC. While in Kelowna, Betty Anne went back to school full-time to relicense as a Registered Nurse in BC. Following her re-certification in BC, she worked as both a home care nurse and a public health nurse.

In 1978, Betty Anne, Larry, and Peter moved back to the mountains – this time to Banff. In Banff, she worked at Canada House, Marika (jewellery), and mainly at The Hudson’s Bay. In retirement, BA and Larry ran a popular B & B “The Carriage House” in their home on Squirrel St. The Banff years were marked by frequent trips to Jasper and by many winters RVing in the Baja.

Larry passed suddenly in 2001 and Betty Anne continued to run the B & B for another season. But with her sons now living in Vancouver, Canmore, and Kelowna, the most central spot for her seemed to be Kelowna; so BA pulled up stakes and in 2004 and bought a beautiful home in Kelowna, in the gated community of Balmoral. BA loved living in Balmoral, she was there for about 14 years and was very active in this community. She made many new and close friends during these years. In 2018, she decided it was time to down-size to an assisted living apartment in Hawthorne Park, where she remained until April 2025.

Betty Anne’s final three weeks were spent at the Kelowna Hospice House. She passed very peacefully and with great dignity in the garden, surrounded by her three sons and their partners Mike & Scott, Doug & Judy, and Pete & Jen; as well as close friends Rick & Kelly Waterhouse.

Betty Anne will be remembered for her keen sense of humour, her deep and lasting commitment to friends, and her devotion to her family. Spending time in the outdoors was always a joy, and there was nothing she loved more than gathering ‘round a campfire with friends and a couple of glasses of white wine!

Betty Anne was predeceased by her parents Pete and Stevie Noullet; husband Larry Cates; sister Joyce Lucas; and brother-in-law Ken Lucas. She is survived by her sons Mike (Scott Peberdy), Doug (Judy Glowinski), and Pete (Jennifer Austin-Cates); and by grandchildren Jackie Cates, Stephanie Gagnon, and Megan, Nic & Paige Cates; great-grandchildren Serenity, Jasmine, and Brodie; nieces Nicole Clement, Lynne Ferguson, & Candace Cates, and nephew Barry Ferguson and their families.

The Cates family will be eternally grateful to the dedicated nurses and support staff at the hospice for taking such exceptional care of this amazing woman throughout her final three weeks. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Kelowna Hospice House, or for those outside of Kelowna, to a hospice within your own community, in her memory.

A Celebration of Life (all are welcome) will be held on SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 2025, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM (PDT), in the Family Centre at SPRINGFIELD FUNERAL HOME, 2020 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC.

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Service Details

The service for CATES, Betty Anne (née Noullet) is scheduled for SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 2025, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM (PDT). Below you will find the map for the service location and the contact information should you have any questions.

Address & Contact for Service Location:

The Family Centre at SPRINGFIELD FUNERAL HOME

2020 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC

Phone:

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Special Requests:

None.

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