Alison Mary Patton (née Stephen)

Alison Mary Patton (née Stephen), born on May 1, 1939, in Dundee, Scotland, passed away peacefully on July 21, 2026, at the age of 87.

She is survived by her sons, Stuart (Elena) Patton of Kamloops and John (Jenipher) Patton of Kamloops; her grandchildren, Taylor and Jacob Patton of Kamloops, and Adam (Emily) Patton of Winnipeg; her younger sister, Janet Stephen of Yorkshire, England; her niece, Allison (Rob) Munro of Edinburgh, Scotland; her nephew, David Stephen of Edinburgh, Scotland; her great-nieces, Katie (Liam) Gallagher and Emily Munro, and great-nephew, Duncan Munro, all of Scotland. Alison is also pre-deceased by her long-term partner, “Big Lee” Smith of Heffley Lake, and is survived by the greater Smith and Berardine families.

She was predeceased by her brother, Rev. Donald Stephen of Edinburgh, Scotland; her father, Alexander (Betty) Stephen; and her mother, (also) Alison Stephen (née Donald), all of Scotland.

Alison grew up in Scotland and pursued a career in nursing, graduating from the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary after completing her nursing training from 1957 to 1960. She continued with midwifery training in Newcastle in 1961 and at Glasgow Royal Maternity Hospital (AKA Rottenrow) in Glasgow in 1962.

In the spring of 1963, Alison immigrated to Canada with three classmates, settling first in Toronto with a job prearranged from a job fair in Glasgow. She worked at Toronto Western Hospital until September 1964 before moving west to Edmonton to join the staff at the University Hospital. It was in Edmonton that she met Ron Patton, whom she married in December 1968 on a bittery cold winter day. Although their marriage ended in 1985, they shared the joy of raising their two sons together, and they remained friends until Alison’s passing.

Stuart and John were born in Edmonton in 1970 and 1973, and in the spring of 1975 the family made Kamloops their home. Alison became a Canadian citizen in 1979, while always holding a special place in her heart for Scotland, which she always referred to as “home.”

Alison devoted her life to caring for others. She continued her nursing career with Home Nursing Care in Kamloops until her retirement in June 1999. Her compassion, professionalism, and quiet dedication touched the lives of countless patients and families throughout her career.

After her retirement, Alison enjoyed living independently for many years. In April 2023, she moved to Berwick on the Park, where she quickly found a welcoming community and formed many new friendships. The family is especially appreciative of the care that the staff at Berwick provided for Alison, as they helped make her last few years more enjoyable while her health was declining.

While she was still physically able, Alison loved to travel, especially returning to Scotland to spend time with the many friends and family she remained close to throughout her life. She also enjoyed gardening, reading, and quilting. For many years, she looked forward to gathering each month with her quilting friends—affectionately known as “the Hookers”—where there was always plenty of laughter, stories, and friendship to be shared. She also enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and lunch “dates” with Jacob for sushi were her favorite! To the family she was simply “G.A.” (Grandma Ali), a title she wore with immense pride.

Alison was a devoted member of Kamloops United Church. She volunteered her time at the church’s thrift shop, affectionately known as the Tuesday Boutique, where she enjoyed serving alongside friends and turning donated products into much needed funds for the church.

Alison will be remembered for the Scottish accent that never quite disappeared, her generosity, her compassion, and her wonderfully dry sense of humour. Above all, she will be remembered as a devoted mother, grandmother, sister, and friend whose kindness and caring nature enriched the lives of all who knew her.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, August 7, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Kamloops United Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to Kamloops Hospice in Alison’s memory.

She spent her life caring for others, and she will be remembered with love by all whose lives she touched.

Arrangements entrusted to

Cypress Funeral & Cremation Services 250-554-2324

Condolences may be expressed to the family by phone or email through Cypress Funeral & Cremation Services: