Stella Nokes

With the heaviest of hearts I have the daunting and impossible task of writing an obituary for Stella. She was so many things to so many people and at the risk of cliche'; to know her was to love her and feel privileged just to be in her presence. She was undoubtably one of the brightest stars and as one close friend commented; one in 7 billion. Adored universally she passed away peacefully in Canmore just shy of her 87th birthday and one day after her 64th wedding anniversary.

Many condolences have resonated identical responses beginning with ' Our Stella '- " a force of nature' and ' larger than life'. She was in fact LIFE or rather what we all want life to be; magical, fearless, creative, intelligent, surprising, fun, heroic, full of spirited adventure, and excessive with love and kindness.

Born in Banff in 1935 to Walter and Marguerite Camp who in the mid 1920's pioneered Johnston Canyon Bungalows and the now famous attraction and trail. Stella was one of 4 children. Bennett, Dolena and JJ were all were raised and worked at the creekside family establishment. However it Stella was the only one to have worked there every summer for the majority of her life - until her mid 70's.

Summers were spent at the Canyon while winters she lived and grew up in Kamloops at Riverside Park, then a motor camp, yet another family business operation. Ever popular in high school, Stella was a formidable and exceptional basketball player and took her team, the Kamloops Sport Shop K-Jets to the provincials. Kamloops Sentinel Headlines 1953 " Stella Camp Frequently Finds Distant Target Earned K-Jets Their Victory". She scored half of the points in the game for her team. "Easily the best girl on the floor, Stella Camp took to the air from far out, the Penticton Kencos could find no counter to the stream of points!'

At 21, in the early winter of 1956 her mom gifted her some 'fun money' and so she decided on a solo Caribbean adventure and escaped to Jamaica ( a young girls crush on Harry Belfonte' was the inspiration ). This awakened a deep love of the West Indies that endured for the rest for her life.

In the summer or 56' working as a waitress at Johnston Canyon, her charisma and beauty where already legendary amongst the many Brewster drivers that would frequent the teahouse on route to Lake Louise on the 1A. As one driver recalled "I would crawl on my hands and knees for over a mile of broken glass and horse manure just to watch her breathe". One certain charming Brewster driver recently hailed from England was Bill Nokes and Stella lovingly recalled ' he was the only one that could keep up with my me in intellect and humour. They were married in fall of 1958 and thus began one of the most envied and admired romances possible. The repertoire between the two was rapid fire comedic gold and was always razor sharp.

In 1969, for $15,900 they bought the smallest cottage on Otter Street in Banff, an old Bankhead house and raised their two boys Tim and Geordie. One of these boys was staggeringly good looking and very talented. As a mother, Stella ensured Christmas, birthdays and pretty much every day was a sensational collision of the best of Disney and Warner Bros. Saturday morning cartoons. The Shrine Circus never needed to come to Banff - it was alive and thriving at 408 Otter Street. To all mothers that provide this magic - I salute you.

Bill worked for Brewsters for 40 years by day and in evenings, in the summer would drive from Banff back to the Canyon be the 'operational maintenance man' to help Stella with the ongoing management of the lodge and 35 cabins. Bill's dry humour and wit would often get him into trouble with the odd unreasonable guest who would insist on lodging a complaint to the owner. Staff retorted ' Won't do you any good as he's sleeping with the boss."

Wearing spectacular and audacious fashion, complete with glowing earrings and outrageous wigs that would make most drag queens blush and retreat, Stella was Iconic at the Famous Brewster Balls and Banff Springs Little Xmas Gala's, The event was not complete until Stella made her entrance. At these celebrity functions many A list actors and celebrities would marvel ' Who or what in the world is that??!!.. Locals would reply ' That's our Stella !'

In the late 1980's Stella and Bill bought a small house and country acreage in the then most obscure island nation of St Kitts and Nevis where she quickly became the most famous person on the tiny tropical isle. People in passing used to say to Bill " Hello Mr Stella ! ..Much to his chagrin. The warm winters and gentle island nature of the locals served them very well and the love and kindness they poured out into the island made them coveted and most endeared. Her house parties became legendary on the island and Stella's culinary expertise was immeasurable. How she could cook for 30 people, set up and entertain and repeat three days later makes one exhausted to even consider and recollect.

Summers spent running Johnston Canyon while wintering in Nevis was the pattern. Regarding the Canyon operations over many decades, Stella's business acumen was spot on while navigating through a myriad of Parks Canada superintendents, changing policy ideologies and shifting hospitality demographics.

Bill retired from Brewster Transport in 1995 and once fully back in Nevis acquired 5 dogs, one cat, one rooster and fairly domesticated local monkey named Herman as their Caribbean pet family. Bill transitioned from dispatching a depot of full of buses and drivers to dispatching a buffet of food bowls to their personal Nevis zoo. He fondly would comment the monkey reminded him of certain Brewster drivers.

In the spring of 2022 Stella and Bills health started to wane and decided they came back to the Rockies with their Nevis cat Sticky to reside in Canmore's Spring Creek's Origin; a Seniors Active Living Residence.

There will be a notification for Celebration of Life sometime in the future. a 'Stellarama' as she loved a good party. In her honour, Stella Falls was officially registered in the World Waterfall Registry and located in Johnston Canyon between the lower and upper falls. Deepest gratitude to all of the caregivers in the Banff and Canmore hospital's acute care. Their kindness and care was superlative.

Services provided by Russ Reynolds and Bow River Funeral Service.