Tribute

Alberta Upton Sevy was born in Denver, Colorado on October 13, 1925 and passed away naturally and peacefully of old age in her home on December 14, 2021.

Alberta, “Bert” to her friends and family, was born to Albert Upton, a respected Denver banker and Josephine Massek, from Czechoslovakia. Alberta spent her teenage years in idyllic Palo Alto, California.  After WW II she married her high school sweetheart Joy Sevy. In 1962 their young family of Jon, Doni, Mary & Cam became modern pioneers when they moved up to a 1,000-acre ranch in remote Christian Valley, BC.  Bert embraced the adventure.  Her appreciation for reading, literature, music and humor amid no electricity nor running water on the ranch equipped her for new roles which were many and varied. She became the school marm of the one room school house while the family also learned to chop wood, haul water and tend the livestock. She loved the 4 years on the ranch. A whole new community joined their voices to sing and worship each Sunday before the family moved off the ranch for higher education and so their ranching days were over. With the move to Penticton, Bert, ever the fine homemaker, also ran a head office downtown until they moved to Osoyoos.  Joy and Alberta as a team had amazing grit and creativity. Alberta was great at creating a name for everything! Palo Alto High School was “Paly High”, College was “CalPoly”, Our “Pope Street House” in Menlo Park, the old family station-wagon was “Old Nellie”, it was the “CV Ranch” and “Tanner Flats” and the tough as nails cow we ate one winter was “4N” Our home Sunday School became “Kettle Valley Branch”. Joy & Alberta recognized the ecological gem, warmth and proximity to the ranch lands that Osoyoos offered. Alberta came up with the name for the new western styled “Silver Sage Drive-In Theatre” which Joy built in 1968. (Now it carries the name “Casitas del Sol”). Always a movie lover herself, Bert quickly learned to draw the crowds with her carefully selected double feature films and the World-Famous Sage Burger” She carefully selected movies she could be proud to show in her community.  To create summer jobs for her teens, the family partnered with the Stelkia family of OIB “The Indian Grove Riding Stable.” Having recovered from polio in 1955, she was ever-after devoted and active in the Relief Society Auxiliary of the church. Her charitable service, teaching, directing music, playing piano, teaching harmony and parts to singers, Barbershop quartets and Christmas Pageants, work in the Food Bank, Museum and many with friends and growing family was what helped keep her steps quick and full of purpose.

Bert loved life and living.

She truly loved Osoyoos.

Alberta was predeceased by her husband Joy and their youngest son A. Cameron Sevy (Sharon) in Utah.

She is survived by her children Jonathan B. Sevy (Barbara) of Penticton; Donnalyn Tamblyn (Don) of Maine; and Maryjoy S. Harris (Gregory) of Osoyoos, B.C. She is adored by her grandchildren and fearfully and gratefully loved by her great grandchildren. Alberta faced her last years with true grit, grace and faith in humanity…. fading away at home in the arms of a loved one.  The family wishes to acknowledge the angelic help of her care-aides, nurses and Doctor who helped allow her to be home to her end.

A Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, December 28, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 7401 87 Avenue Osoyoos BC with a Graveside Service at 2:00 p.m. at Osoyoos Lakeview Cemetery. It will be available live on Zoom.com, ID # 250250 9639, password 232641. Condolences and tributes may be left for the family by visiting www.nunes-pottinger.com