Islay Rachel Besley (Gillies) January 31, 1930 to September 26, 2021
Passed away peacefully at Headwaters Health Care Centre, with family by her side, after a hard but short fight with cancer.
Loving wife of predeceased Reverend Bruce Besley. She will be forever missed by her 6 children; Mary Jean Campbell (John) Orleans ON, Linda Allan (Steve) Vanderhoof BC, Betty Prince Shelburne ON, Ron Besley (Elena) Victoria BC, Margaret McCarthy (Steve) Shelburne ON, Barbara McKibbon (Kevin) Shelburne ON.
Predeceased by brothers and sisters; Jim and May Gillies, Rillie and Nelson Rathbun, Bill Gillies, Don and Gladys Gillies.
She will be missed by her sisters Dorothy Scott (Jim – deceased), Barbara Kaasalainen and husband Arvo, sister-in-law Muriel Gillies (Bill-deceased). She will be greatly missed by her grandchildren Carissa Darmody (Shawn), Michelle Campbell, Stefanie Whetstone (Michael), Melissa Allan (Joe), Krista Allan (Cameron), Daniel Prince (Lindsay), Katie Prince (Tyler), Aren Ludlow, Anora Ludlow, Sam Besley, Gleb Katova, Megan Schaefer (Nick), Terri-Lynn O’Gorman (Ryan), Beckie Connell (Mike), Jackie Pogson (Justin), Dylan McKibbon and her 25 great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Islay was born in Weston Ontario and grew up west of Dundalk. Islay married a Shelburne boy (son of John & Jean Besley) Bruce Besley (53 years married). She taught school in Woodside PS, Honeywood PS, Grand Valley PS, Bowling Green PS, Engleheart PS and Madoc PS as well as supply teaching. She worked at McCarthy Signs after retiring as a teacher and retired from there to spend time looking after her grandchildren and her husband before he passed. She was a terrific wood worker, craft maker, sewer and crochet expert. Her cooking and baking kept us all smiling along with her great sense of humor. All of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, felt loved and special as she whispered “You are my favourite” to each and every one.
She was a giver and always thought of others before herself, giving cards to her friends and family on special occasions. She remembered every event for every person in her life which made us all feel extra special.
Islay was a competitive card player and loved to play cards with her friends. She was up for a card game or coffee any time. In the past several years Thursdays were “baby day” and she had her granddaughters and great grand babies over for home cooked lunches where many happy memories were made.
A lovely gentle lady to the end. Forever loved and missed.
If desired, donations to Headwaters Health Care Centre would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Islay Rachel Besley Gillies Sunday September 26th 2021..
Death notice for the town of: SHELBURNE, Province: Ontario