Gail Seymour, born 28 September 1943 in Prince Rupert B.C. passed away 31 May 2020 in the Herbert Nursing Home. She was officially diagnosed with cancer of the lungs and brain on 27 February 2020.

Gail was predeceased by her parents, Wilf and Margaret Bolam of Surrey BC, her son Kristopher James Seymour of Prince Albert SK, her sister-in-law Anne Bolam of Surrey BC, and her ex-husband David Seymour of Sylvan Lake AB. She is survived by her sons Kelly Seymour (Linnette Triska), and Korry Seymour, her grandchildren Kristopher Logan Seymour and Shelby Gail Ann Seymour, her brother Barry Bolam, her nephew Jason Bolam (Kasey Currie) and their children Ava Dawn Bolam and Reagan Anne Bolam, and nephew Carey Bolam as well as many cousins too numerous to list. Gail is also survived by her partner-in-life of almost 40 years, Albert (Al) Kildaw, his children Tami Wall (Brad), their children Megan, Colter, and Faith, and Kyle Kildaw (Cindy) and their children Alexandra and Samantha, and Robin Kildaw (Wendy) and his two daughters, Tara Bishop (Adam) and their three children Jordyn, Brayden, and Jenay, and Jessi Kildaw and her two children Rustin and Regan.

Gail attended UBC with the intention of becoming a teacher, but soon realized that path was not the one she actually wanted to be on. She married in 1964 and became a mother to 3 sons. She lost the youngest to a tragic accident. After moving to Prince Albert SK from locations in northern Saskatchewan, she began working as a proofreader at the Prince Albert Daily Herald. Her position changed to line editor and then sportswriter (second female sportswriter in the province) and ended her career in the newspaper business in 1992. Through her work she met her partner Al Kildaw and they began their life together Jan 5, 1981.

Gail was an avid reader and has a library of over 2000 books all of which she has read at least once. She also wrote a fiction novel inspired by social injustice prevalent in the 1980s, called Flight to Justice, largely based on her knowledge of flying and understanding of the comradery of the pilot community.

I asked our friend Lisa Thomson if she could send me something to put in the obituary and this is what I got, with only minimal editing and cutting required.

Gail Seymour loved her life, calling her Herbert home “a happy house”.

Her kindness and generosity were unmatched as she offered to share what she had with anyone in need, be it an out of town teenager who played hockey with one of her sons, or an out of town reporter for the PA Herald who was stuck in Prince Albert for the holidays and needed Christmas dinner. No one ever had to worry about being alone or hungry when Gail was around. She shared compliments with the same fervour, making sure everyone felt appreciated for their contributions, no matter how small, to either the meal or the conversation.

Gail cherished her family, partner Al, and sons Korry and Kelly, as well as her son Kristopher who passed away as a toddler. Korry’s son, also named Kristopher, held a special place in her heart, as did Kelly’s daughter Shelby, who spent last Christmas break with her and Al.

Her heart embraced Al’s family as well as she held Tami, Kyle, Robin and their families just as close to her heart. She spent many happy hours in later years with her brother Barry, including a wonderful vacation in England with him and Al in June of 2018. Her extended family from and in Elkhorn also held a special place in her heart and she visited them often and cherished their closeness.

Gail’s kindness and love extended to her community once she moved to Herbert, as she delivered Meals on Wheels, served on the local museum board, managing the museum and its stunning Christmas festival with her friends for many successful years. Gail also brought her love of reading and community to so many through her work on the library board, helping to instill her passion for it in young and old. She looked forward to community parades and rodeos, and was always happy to pitch in to whatever fundraising drive was underway, most often with her dear friend Annie by her side.
An avid reader, Gail was also a talented author, writing multiple regular well-read and award winning columns during her many years at the Prince Albert Daily Herald. Gail also penned a full mystery novel after her retirement from the paper, and her beautiful prose still resides on many a bookshelf as she shared her talents with those she loved, including her dear friend Lisa.

Gail also loved her cats, which accompanied her through life – from Napper, Nephi to Sassy and Serena, she cherished each one’s love and snuggles, even getting up at 5AM to feed them at their loud insistence before she went out to water her beautiful garden and joyfully watch the sun rise. Last year, she was delighted to have two bird feeders added to her yard, and spent many a happy hour feeding and watching her little feathered friends.

Gail was an avid cook and canner who created salsas, soups, preserves and all other manner of tasty concoctions from the bounty she created and tended in her yard. She loved to be in the sun and the pool, to play with her plants and to watch the people she loved enjoy themselves, as she hosted and shared her wicked sense of humour along with some sage advice to anyone in need.

Upon her cancer diagnosis earlier this winter, Gail’s wish was that everyone could come out for a swim this summer. “Wouldn’t that be nice! All of us together,” she declared. Sadly, Gail’s optimism, happiness, good humour, kindness and love for the world were not enough to overcome the advanced cancer.

A Celebration of Life in her honour will be hosted once restrictions on crowd size are lifted, and we know her spirit will be there. Further details on the location and date will be provided once organization is complete.

We will all remember Gail for the wonderful, kind, generous, loving soul that she was to every person and animal, every day on this earth. Hopefully, we all will try every day to bring the same joy to the world that she bestowed with her ever-present laugh and smile. Our world will miss you Gail, but you will live on in our decades of memories of happy times and hugs.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the charity of your choice.

Gail has been left in the capable hands of the Swift Current Funeral Home.

• Date : 2020-05-31