SCAIFE, Jean Scaife

Born on July 4, 1936, Jean Scaife died on December 6, 2025, in Kelowna, BC, at the age of 89.

She is survived by her children Cali (husband Adam predeceased), Matt, Richard, and Hugh (wife Shelley); her grandchildren Christine, Stephen, Stephanie, Sera, Jamie, Kelsey, Jordan, and Madison; and by her great-grandchildren Grayson, Quinn, Elias, Isaiah, and Peter; and finally daughters-in-law, Carol and Wendy.

Born in Kenora, ON, Jean moved to Kelowna, BC as a 12-year-old. Jean was spontaneous and always full of surprises, as illustrated in her 13th year, by her swimming across Lake Okanagan and back again. The non-stop event was purely for fun – she, along with her older sister Bernie, reported with delight that they didn’t even touch the bottom for a rest on the first crossing. Her favourite colour, orange, expressed a vitality that was rare. She was strong and determined, and it seemed that she could do anything she put her mind to.

It was in Kelowna, where her older sister had a blind date; the fellow, whose birthday it was, had just arrived in town. Jean was sitting on the sofa looking this new fellow up and down, as he took Jean’s sister out on their blind date. Some months later, Jean happened to take her mother into the jewellery store he worked at. While she was shopping, she blurted out, “Mom, see that man over there… I’m going to marry him”. True to her comment, some months later she did. His name – Terry Scaife.

They worked well together and while Jean was raising 4 teenagers at home, in 1975 they decided to purchase and run a bike and hobby store called Dover Sales. They renamed it TJ Bikes and Hobbies (which later became just TJ Bikes), which they operated together until they sold it in 2000. Jean ran the bike shop for the first 5 years, and then Terry joined her full time after retiring from CHBC TV. Jean and her beloved Terry were able to celebrate their 59th anniversary just weeks prior to Terry’s passing in 2015. Jean felt this loss deeply.

Everyone will miss the smells of her kitchen as Jean would cook anything for anyone and if you had an allergy or just didn’t like something she’d make 2 varieties just to make everyone happy. She loved baking, and everyone loved eating her creations. Jean would proudly tell of how during their first year of marriage, she did not cook the same meal twice. She was also the peacekeeper, always wanting peace in the family and house.

Jean loved people, however she preferred her friendships to run deep over wide.  She will be missed by her small circle of friends greatly, they will miss her fierce loyalty and her accepting nature. But, don’t let that fool you, her outer circle was vast since Jean enjoyed keeping in touch with old acquaintances, she even attended her high school reunions up to the 70th!

She was very creative as well. She sewed clothing for herself, her children, and friends. Jean often drafted her own patterns. She made everything from costumes to bridesmaids dresses, evening gowns, suits and accessories.

As the Matriarch of the family, she will be dearly missed. The family treasured the many years of holding everyone together and creating a safe space for all who came into the family. We are lesser for her loss.

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