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Jacquelene Thomson: lively thinker, hard worker, master gardener, environmental activist, Christian youth group leader, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend, died on July 4th , 2017 in North Vancouver at the age of 87.

Jacquie was born in Victoria, B.C on September 22nd, 1929. She moved frequently as a child prior to settling in Parksville for her tenth grade. It was here that she met her future husband, Harvey Thomson. Both she and Harvey attended and graduated from UBC. After graduation they were married and within a year their eldest son Mark was born. 

She and Harvey, now an engineer, moved to Kitimat in 1956.Their son John was born in 1957. In 1963 they purchased a hobby farm in Usk, northeast of Kitimat. They grew most of their own food and their home was always open to others at meal times. Jacquie, not one to admit limitations, one summer canned approximately 1000 quarts of preserves while engaged in a nonstop dialogue that would have likely included politics, medicine, botany and religion. Two daughters, Tamara and Kathleen, were born in 1965 and 1968 respectively. For many years Jacquie lead the youth group at the town's First Baptist Church. 

When Harvey retired from a senior position at Alcan's Kitimat Works, they left the north and moved to a property bordering French Creek in Parksville. There they had an orchard and many acres of gardens and woods. Jacquie swam in the ocean nearby, accompanied by her German Shepherds, most evenings between June and October.

Harvey passed away in 1996. Jacquie continued to live on the property by herself with a series of much loved dogs until early this year. She grew and maintained her garden until the fall of 2016, always ready to chase deer with her trusty tractor or if needed, on foot with a brass school bell in hand.

Jacquie was a determined foe of all invasive species, plant or animal, and was sometimes referred to as the Hogweed Queen. She might have agreed with the moniker if it had incorporated the correct Latin term: Heracleum Mantegazzianum.

She is survived by her children Mark Thomson (wife Jenny), John Thomson, Tamara Thomson and Kathleen Jory (husband Peter), grandchildren Caitlin, Max, Jack, Samantha, Robin and Madeleine and great grandchild June.

A Memorial at 1236 Island Highway, Parksville will take place at 11:30 am on October 6.

In lieu of flowers donations to Doctors Without Borders would be greatly appreciated. 



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