Obituary of Kari Taylor Atkins

It is with profound sorrow and heartbreak that we announce the passing of Kari Taylor Atkins on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at Holmberg House in Abbotsford, BC, after a long, hard-fought, and courageous battle with cancer, at the age of 56 years.

 

Kari will be forever remembered by her loving husband Matthew Atkins; father and stepmother Bryan and Paulette Taylor; stepbrother Corey MacDonald; father-in-law John Atkins; brother-in-law Gary (Pam) Atkins; aunts and uncles: Leigh (Darlene) Taylor, Janet (Harold) Cardinal, Marilyn (Randy) Grubb, Rene Metituk, Mike (Linda) Brent, and Judy (Gary) Brent; as well as numerous cousins.

 

Kari was predeceased by her mother Edith Taylor, mother-in-law Sheila Atkins, grandparents Peter and Agnes Taylor, and Tom and Lois Brent, uncles John Brent, and Murray Metituk.

 

Kari was born March 23, 1967, in Ottawa, ON, and raised on a farm near Wembley, AB. After graduating from Beaverlodge Regional High School, she attended the University of Alberta, where she earned her Bachelor of Commerce degree. This degree enabled Kari to work independently over her lifetime, contracting her services to many agencies in Canada, and internationally.

 

In September of 1994, Kari met the love of her life Matthew, at the Canadian Country Music Awards, in Calgary, AB, they married in Edmonton, AB, on June 20, 1997. After marrying they began their adventures, which included their certification as PADI as scuba instructors, and the creation of Atkins Scuba. They traveled the world living in Canada, Mexico, and Thailand and working leading groups of divers across the globe to various locations such as Indonesia, the Galapagos Islands, and the Caribbean, sharing their love of travel and adventure. Kari and Matthew explored many parts of the world together gaining a lifetime of memories and stories.

 

In addition to the connections Kari and Matthew made through her contract work, Matthew’s music career, and their adventures made them amazingly close friends from all walks of life, who have been so supportive of them both through Kari’s final journey and continue to support Matthew through this challenging time. Both Kari and Matthew could not be more grateful for the love and support, calls, cards, video chats, and visits from friends and family both near and far.

 

A Celebration of Life will be held later this year in her memory. Cremation has taken place at Amherst Funeral Home in Coquitlam, BC.

 

In lieu of flowers or other thoughtful gifts, Kari's family would encourage anyone who wishes, to donate in her memory to the Abbotsford Hospice & Greif Support Society (32780 Marshall Rd: Abbotsford, BC, V2S 1J7, www.abbotsfordhospice.org, Ph: 604-852-2456)

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