Quadros (NORRIS) Bernice Elaine
October 24, 2012
Bee Quadros – a former long time Bulkley Valley resident passed away peacefully in her sleep in the afternoon of October 24, 2012 at the Watson Lake Hospital, in the Yukon Territory, at the age of 87.
Bee was born on January 17, 1925 in Hollywood, California, and in 1929 was moved to San Jose, California where her parents opened Norris’ Yardage store. As a child, Bee loved going to the movie theatre every Saturday, and throughout her life, followed the careers of the actors and musicians of her time. From childhood until her marriage, Bee took dancing lessons and participated in dancing recitals. Her parents were very involved in the Masonic Lodge, and Bee grew up as a Rainbow girl. During her high school years Bee worked in the ‘cannery’ and at her parents’ store, and after her father’s death in 1946, helped her mother to run the store.
In April 1945, Bee married her high school sweetheart, Bill Quadros. In February 1961, with a young family in tow, she and Bill moved to Canada after purchasing the Murray’s ranch at Doughty, 17 miles west of Smithers, British Columbia.
In Smithers, Bee worked at the Interior Stationery store, and in 1966, with partners Pat McCammon opened the clothing store, Village Tots’n Teens. In the early ‘70’s the store was expanded and was renamed Village Fashions. Bee also served as secretary of the Bulkley Valley Fall Fair, and was a founding member of the Bulkley Lodge Society and helped orchestrate fundraising and construction of the Lodge.
Once retired and with Village Fashions sold, Bee relocated to live with her youngest daughter in Kamloops, BC and then moved with her daughter to Pincher Creek in Alberta. In October 2007, she moved to Watson Lake, Yukon to live with her oldest daughter and husband.
She is survived by her three children: Gary (Rachelle) Quadros of Victoria, BC, Susan (Barry) Drury of Watson Lake, YT, and Carolyn (Ken) Neher of Comanche, OK; eight grandchildren: Wesley Quadros of Burnaby, BC, Pamela-Jane Quadros Harnish (Andrew Harnish) of Seattle, WA, Jason Drury of Whistler, BC, Caroline (Cristian) Márkos of Winnipeg, MB, Ashley Haughton of Lethbridge, AB, Cara-Lee Haughton of Kamloops, BC, Raelene Haughton of Swift Current, SK, and Jay-Douglas Haughton of Kamloops, BC, and two great-grandchildren: Thea-Jane and Maggie-Jane Harnish of Seattle, WA.
A private family interment of ashes will occur in San Jose, CA. In lieu of flowers, we suggest a donation to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, or an Arthritis Society.