Tribute

With her family at her side in Cranbrook Regional Hospital, Marite Askey died of congestive heart failure at the age of 79. Born Marite Grikis as a Latvian citizen in Germany at the end of World War II, her family had emigrated first to London, England and then to Edmonton, Canada, where she graduated from high school and later from U of A’s School of Nursing. She traveled in Europe and worked as an RN in Vancouver and Edmonton in the early 1970’s before accepting a nursing job in 1975 in Cranbrook, where her sister Edi had settled. Marite met the love of her life while skiing at Kimberley that winter, and in spring of 1976 Marite and Alan Askey were married. Thus began the rest of her life, as Marite learned to navigate and help support family life with step-sons aged 11 and 16, and a husband who was an avid outdoorsman. She became proficient in backpacking, 4-wheel driving, horse-packing, canoeing, and chainsaw operation. Marite and Alan enjoyed countless trips into the local mountain ranges together and off-season they explored the American southwest desert canyons. They also made northern river trips on the Firth in the Arctic, and on the Tatshenshini-Alsek Rivers. During the 16 years they had re-located to Burnaby, BC, Marite earned a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from UBC, ran a marathon, spent a great deal of time with her elderly mom, and enjoyed the forests and trails of the lower Mainland and Coast Mountains. Returning to the Kootenays in 2000, Marite was actively involved in the Wasa Lake Improvement District and in an informal hiking group of laid-back ladies. While Marite was not a socialite by any stretch, she valued and maintained some lifelong friendships. Marite and Alan lived quietly at Wasa Lake, enjoying reading, swimming and family visits until his death in 2021 and her move into Kootenay Street Village one year later. Marite was predeceased by her husband Alan, father Eduards Grikis, mother Erna Grikis, and sister Edi Head. She was loved and will be missed by her step-sons David (Jesseca), Ethan (Liz), grand-daughter Claire and her friends. At her request, there will be no funeral service but a celebration of life will occur in late October; please contact Ethan Askey (ea99@telus.net) if you’d like to attend.