Gertrude "Kay" (nee Baer) Chesney passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 16, 2016 in the Yorkton and District Nursing Home, Yorkton, SK. Kay was born August 22, 1918 on the family farm in the Rural Municipality of Grayson No. 184. Kay started school at Larson School south of Dubuc, SK. At a young age she worked as a domestic in the surrounding area. As a young woman, she had health problems and moved with relatives to Ontario, where she worked at various jobs from picking tobacco and fruit to sewing in a factory. She returned to Yorkton and started working at the Yorkton Union Hospital. Kay was united in marriage to John Chesney on November 14, 1945. They honeymooned at a bush camp at Reserve, SK. Kay and John bought land in the Good Hope district and started their own diversified family farm in 1946. They loved dancing at Barn dances, Lake dances, School dances and Seniors' dances. Spring time was Kay's best time of the year, planting an oversized garden and hatching or getting baby chicks. She loved having her grandchildren live close by, she loved to bake bread and buns and always had a good supply of perogies for them. Kay enjoyed cooking and always wanted you to have some more, but not to get fat. She was always interested in making every recipe a little healthier and finding a home remedy to cure almost every ailment. Kay belonged to clubs and groups such as the Hill Top Curling Club, Good Hope Ladies Club, Good Hope Recreational Co-operative and Yorkton Senior's dance club. In 2007 Kay and John moved off the farm to Yorkton. In 2013, she was hospitalized and lived mainly at the Yorkton and District Nursing Home in Yorkton until her passing. Predeceased by her husband, John in 2009; parents, John and Mary (nee Neumann) Baer; her brothers, Joe, Frank (Ann), George and sisters, Pauline (Joe) Reiger, Evelyn (John) Drefko, Mary, Betty (Bob) Whetstone; daughter-in-law, Patricia Chesney; parents-in-law, Ben and Hermina (nee Farkes) Chesney; step-mother, Elizabeth and two children, in infancy, Julia and Chester. Gertrude (Kay) leaves to celebrate her life: two sons, Garry and John (Joan); six grandchildren, Darlene (Allan) Schlechter, Corey (Jeanine), Marty (Heather), Andrea (Craig) Morris, Steven and Danielle; eight great-grandchildren, Chelsea and Jared (Allyssa), Dustin, Hudson, Hunter, Everet, Benjamin and Emma; three great-great-grandchildren, Kingston Dorosh, Kayle and Kase Schlecter; brother, Fred (Olga) Bahr; brother-in-law, Earl; sisters-in-law, Evelyn, Beverley, Cathrine "Kitty" as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral Services were held on Tuesday, June 21, 2016 from the Chapel of Christie's Funeral Home with Pastor Dave Taylor officiating. Special taped music selections included, "Just a Closer Walk With Thee" as sung by Loretta Lynn, "How Great Thou Art" as sung by Carrie Underwood and "The Old Rugged Cross" as sung by Leanne Rimes. Kay's great-grandson, Hunter Chesney shared a poetic tribute, her grandson, Marty Chesney shared words of tribute and eulogy and memories were shared by members of the Yorkton & District Nursing Home Staff. The closing hymn was a solo by Kay's granddaughter, Danielle Chesney who sang "Amazing Grace". Following a reception in the Waldron Hall, the Cremation Committal took place in the Waldron Cemetery, Waldron, SK. Friends so wishing may forward their condolences to the family by visiting www.christiesfuneralhome.com. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Christie's Funeral Home & Crematorium, Yorkton, Saskatchewan.
