KEAN, Shelley Jo

July 26, 1952 — September 29, 2023

Shelley Jo Kean passed away while at home on September 29, 2023, at the age of 71.

Shelley, the youngest of four siblings (Jake Kean, Janine Corbeil, and Mike Kean), was born on July 26, 1952, in Peterborough, Ontario, to parents Audrey and John Kean. The family lived throughout various parts of Ontario, including Sudbury, and Carlton Place. Shelley often shared captivating tales of the old houses they lived in. Among these, one house had an outhouse in the yard for a washroom, another featured secret doors connecting rooms, and a third had enigmatic markings on the fence, attracting all kinds of strange visitors who were passing through town. As the youngest of 4, before reaching school age, her mother would pack her a lunch and send her to the pasture down the street to have lunch with the cows while her older siblings were off to school.

As an adult, Shelley left Carlton Place for North Bay, Ontario to do administrative work at the Canadian Forces Air Base. In 1981, she met Larry Locking and began a 42-year-long partnership. Their firstborn daughter, Jaclyn May Locking, arrived December 31, 1986, and they crossed the country 6 months later to set roots in Kelowna, British Columbia. Shelley loved the long summers here and that you could enjoy a drink in the backyard without being attacked by black flies. In 1988, their second daughter, Nicole Patricia Locking, was born on August 13. Shelley loved her family very much and was very proud of both her daughters.

Shelley was incredibly smart, and she worked very hard throughout her life to support her family. She held various jobs over the years: typing statements for insurance adjustors, administrative work for Okanagan Heating and Air Conditioning, and she was even a weather observer for Environment Canada (taking great pleasure in telling the local CHBC TV Weather personalities what the forecast would be). Her longest role was working alongside Steve Coutts as his right hand at Okanagan Court Reporters for over 35 years, where she transcribed and proofread all kinds of court matters, assembled appeal books, and handled invoicing.

In her spare time, she loved to cheer for the BC Lions and had very heated opinions on how the referees handled each game. She also enjoyed listening to the Kelowna Rockets Games on the radio. She enjoyed spending time with her daughters, be it discussing current events, making trips to the library, or cooking in the kitchen. Her favourite books to read in her spare time were written by John Grisham and James Patterson. Her favourite holiday was Christmas.

Shelley’s laugh was absolutely infectious, and she always managed to make someone smile, even a stranger. She always helped others when and where she could and was incredibly kind and joyful.

Shelley is greatly missed by all those who knew her.

Shelley leaves behind her husband, Larry Locking; her daughter, Jaclyn May Locking, and son-in-law, Brennen McConnell; daughter, Nicole Patricia Locking; sister, Janine, & brother-in-law, Frank Corbeil; and brother, Mike Kean; as well as many loved extended family members and friends. Her spirit joins the spirit of her brother, Jake Kean, and sister-in-law, Linda Kean, who passed before she did.

We take comfort in knowing she is finally at peace.

A Celebration of Life to honour Shelley will be planned for the Spring of 2024, in North Bay, ON. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mamas for Mamas.

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