STEEVES, KATHARINE GRACE 1918-2004 Halifax, N.S. - Katharine "Brownie" Steeves 85 died on February 20, 2004 after a heroic battle with Parkinson's disease. Raised in Plaster Rock, N.B., she was the daughter of Donald and Katharine Fraser. She received a diploma in Home Economics from Mount Allison University and then her Nursing diploma from Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal. She married soul mate Lea Steeves, a physician and educator in 1942. With the arrival of her children she put aside her nursing career to commit her life and boundless energy to her family. She returned to nursing thirty years later. She was wholly devoted to her husband and to his medical career but never at the expense of her devotion to her sons. Family camping, hiking and canoeing trips became requisite aspects of Lea's professional engagements across the Atlantic Region, Canada and Britain. This also meant accepting challenges such as spearheading the first annual Nova Scotia Heart and Stroke Foundation fund raising campaign. Katharine served her community in many other ways; in particular she was very active on various committees in the United Church from fundraising to outreach and elder aerobics programs. She had an intuitive understanding of children and an unwavering devotion to practical education, which naturally led her into an 18-year relationship with the Boy Scout Movement. As "Akela" to the 18th Halifax cub pack and later also as District Commissioner she displayed an undiscriminating desire to see that every "cub" had a unique experience fostering their individual gifts and talents. Whether organizing a holiday hockey league or putting on a family puppet show for other families at the YMCA, Katharine was always there when children were involved. She was also known for her bountiful gardens of flowers and produce. Her love of gardening grew from her early childhood and reflected the patience, caring and equanimity that she exhibited in all aspects of her life. Gardening served as a continual educational metaphor, which Katharine used to instill the virtues of practical living within her sons and grandchildren. When arthritis limited her mobility, she took up the craft of weaving and later rug hooking. Not surprisingly her administrative skills soon found her actively involved in The Rug Hooking Guild of Nova Scotia. She is lovingly remembered by her family whose welfare she placed above all else. Donald (Alma) of Charlottetown, PEI; Alexander (JoAnn) Mahone Bay, NS; Gordon (Bonnie) Timberlea, NS; John (Sandra) Moncton, NB; and James (Sharon) Seabright, NS; fourteen grandchildren, one great grandchild, several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by two brothers Donald (Mac) Fraser and Alex Fraser. A memorial service will take place at Rockingham United Church, Halifax on Saturday, March 6, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:Rockingham United Church 12 Flamingo Drive, Halifax, NS B3M 1S5