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Kathleen Straw was born on Feb. 25,1914 to parents Elizabeth and William Henry Straw in Maxim, Saskatchewan. Kathleen grew up at 20819 85th Avenue in Willoughby, roughly where the overpass now is. She had two brothers, Richard (Dick) Straw and Wilfred Straw. Kathleen attended West Langley Elementary School, Langley High School, and received her Elementary School Teaching Certificate from Vancouver Normal School. She married John Ellens on June 26, 1937 and they lived 521 Alexander Road or what is now know as 7851 208th Street, just south of the present Willoughby Elementary School playing fields (2013). Kathleen and John had two sons, Harris Ellens and William (Bill) Ellens. Kathleen was a teacher at West Langley Elementary School from 1935 until her marriage in 1937, a librarian at the Langley Public Library, and a Returning Officer in local, provincial and federal elections. She was an active member of Willoughby United Church, where she taught Sunday school. She served as Chairman of the Church Board of Trustees and was a CGIT leader. Kathleen died Nov. 20, 1976 in Murrayville.

Kathleen Laura McVicar was born on December 29, 1925, in Burnaby, to Archibald and Ivy McVicar, nee Chatt (1903-2002). She married Frederick Ellis Kells (April 9, 1923 - ) in 1946, and they had twin boys in 1950 and a daughter in 1956. She worked for the Income Tax office between 1944 and 1946. She was interested in local history and wrote about the Port Kells area. She volunteered at the Langley Centennial Museum. Kathleen passed away in 2012 at the age of 86.

West Langley School started out as a one-room school at 208 Street and 96 Avenue. More classrooms and other rooms were added to the school at various times including 1924, 1948, 1957 and throughout the 1950s and 60s. A fire destroyed the building in 1978. A new building was erected in 1981 at 9403 - 212 Street.