Shirley Florence Barry passed away December 9, 2021, in Edmonton following weeks of heart issues.
Shirley was predeceased by her husband Keats, mother Beatrice, father Peter MacNeill, brothers Bob and Wayne and sister Doreen. She is survived by her sisters Ora (Maurice) Decorby, Beatrice (Les) Hamilton, brother Jim (Stella) McNeill and sister-in-law Barb McNeill. She is mourned by her seven children, Lynn (Gord) Smarsh, Barb Popplestone, Greg Barry, Jone (Phil) Barry, Kathy (Glen) Fraser, Patrice Barry, and Dave (Colleen) Barry.
She was a grandmother to 14 and a great-grandmother to 9.
Shirley was born in 1929 in the village of Midnapore, a community that has since become a part of Calgary. Her family moved to Edmonton area a few years later where her father ran a fur farm. At the urging of her parents, she left high school after grade 11 to take a Comptometer Operator course at Alberta College. She worked at the H. Ross Lumber company and then at the Co-op accounting office.
Shirley met Keats on their infamous sleigh ride. He pushed her off and she saw stars. She agreed to go out for dinner with him a couple of weeks later because she couldn’t remember what he looked like. They were married about a year and a half later on September 4, 1950.
She raised her seven children in the communities of Strathearn, Ottewell and Millwoods. The family spent many of their summers at “Berry Patch” family cabin on Moonlight Bay at Pigeon Lake.
When Shirley found some spare time, she volunteered in the community for organizations including the CWL, as a driver for Meals on Wheels, and as a driver for the 1978 Commonwealth Games.
Shirley’s common sense, patience and humour will be missed by those who were lucky enough to know her.
A Funeral Liturgy will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, April 29, 2022, at Connelly-McKinley Edmonton South Chapel, 4820 Meridian Street NW, Edmonton.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Shirley Florence Barry 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Edmonton, Province: Alberta