Kevin McKenna Newman passed away suddenly at the Ashcroft Hospital on Saturday, April 30, 2016 at the age of 84 years.
Kevin is survived by Frances, his loving wife of 56 years, their children Patrick (Patty) Newman of Cache Creek, and Lorraine (Sean) Donaghy of Kamloops, grandchildren Kali (Patrick) Pilon, Adam Newman, Austin Hoffman and Alexandra Hoffman as well as his brother Paul (Cathy) Newman and sister-in-law Sonia Newman. He is also survived by his inlaws Barbara (Gordon) Jacobs and Marie McDonald and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents Alice and Edward Newman, his sister Joan, and his brother Carl.
As a geologist, geoscientist (P. Eng) he spent all of his professional career in the mining industry doing drilling exploration for mineral deposits. He had a great fondness for nature, living and working in Northern Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, the Northwest Territories and finishing his career as the chief geologist with Teck Cominco at Highland Valley. He loved fishing, and tying flies, as well as being in his garden. In his working years he was credited for having founded a gem called Gaspeite in northern Quebec. In recent times Kevin took pride in working with his hands and began hand crafting silver and gemstone jewelry. He and Frances have been active for many years in St. Gerard’s Catholic Church.
A memorial mass for Kevin will be held at
11:00 am on Saturday, May 7
from St. Gerard’s Catholic Church 512 Brink Street, Ashcroft. A reception will follow in the Parish Hall.
Donations in memory of Kevin may be made to the St. Francis Xavier University Geology Department in Nova Scotia. Online condolences may be made at www.tvfh.ca