Obituary of Verna VOWLES

VOWLES, Verna (nee Tibbles) With profound sadness we say goodbye to Verna who passed away peacefully in Kingston, Ontario, on Monday July 25, 2016 in her 98th year. Daughter of Jack Tibbles and Queenie (Gowan) Tibbles. Dearly beloved wife of the late Bruce Vowles. Dear sister of the late Leslie Tibbles and Dr. James Tibbles. Loving mother of Jim Vowles (Sharon) and David Vowles (Karen). Dearest aunt of Penny Cookson, John and Richard Tibbles, Douglas and Robert Vowles. Dearly loved grandmother of Kevin, Heather (Daniel) and Aevan Vowles. Dearly loved great-grandmother of Alexander and Noah Grunebaum. Verna also leaves behind many dear friends, bridge players and fellow artists. Verna attended Queen's Radio School from 1945 to 1946 where she met her husband Bruce. They remained married for 63 years and were long time residents of Drummondville, Beaconsfield and Hudson Quebec before settling in Kingston in 1988. Verna grew up in Scarborough and, like her mother, became an influential and innovative teacher. Her teaching career spanned more than three decades in Ontario, B.C. and Quebec. She retired from the Lakeshore School Board in Beaconsfield, Quebec in 1980. Verna was best known as a prolific artist. She proudly earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Magna Cum Laude) from Concordia University in 1978. Over the years she had an extensive series of exhibitions in Quebec and Ontario. Her art exhibits and paintings have been enjoyed by countless individuals as well as national and international collectors. Her early works were primarily landscapes painted in oils, en plein air, from the rolling scenery of Eastern Ontario as well as Quebec's Eastern Townships and the Laurentians. In 2002, at the age of 83, she made a dramatic departure to expressionist acrylic abstracts. These works were strongly influenced by Mark Rothco, Jackson Pollock and especially Canada's Lila Lewis Irving; and, much like Verna's personality, are characterized by vivid colours, bold brush strokes and a dynamic sense of design. The family will receive friends at James Reid Funeral Home, 1900 John Counter Blvd., Kingston, on Tuesday August 9th from 7:00 to 9:00 pm and Wednesday August 10th from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. A memorial service will be held in the chapel at 1:00 pm with a reception to follow. At Verna's request, friends are invited to wear bright colours as a celebration of the beauty that is all around us. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Verna Vowles Art Bursary (by cheque only made payable to OKWA in care of the James Reid Funeral Home). Online condolences can be made at info@jamesreidfuneralhome.com This gentle soul with her indomitable spirit and love of art, people and colour will be missed by all.