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Shirley Mattie Obituary
Shirley May (Thomas) Mattie, who lived 65 years on the Mattie family farm near Alix, Alberta, passed away on August 4, 2024, at Royal Oak Assisted Living in Lacombe, Alberta, at the age of 91. Her family was at her side.
She was born on the Thomas farm near Tees, Alberta on April 12, 1933. She was the second eldest daughter of Walter (Pike) and Ella Thomas. She grew up around Tees, with her siblings Annetta, Betty, Darlene, and Walter.
Shirley worked hard on the Thomas farm and was Pike’s best worker, which may have been why she was not allowed to marry Oliver Mattie until April 12, 1951 (the day she turned 18). The first year of marriage was a lot of change for Shirley as she learned to cook and their first baby Roger (Wendy) arrived, followed quickly by Ed (Cindy), then a short break before Dwayne (Sandy) and Allan (Lorrie). At the age of twenty-five, she was cooking, and caring for four little boys, and driving grain truck when Oliver needed, plus maintaining a garden to feed them all. It was tough times, but she never complained. Soon, the family grew with another child, this time the long-awaited girl, Merlene (Rod). After five children they figured out the cause and were able to put a stop to the children at least until Lora was born and then the family continued to grow in a different way.
Shirley was an avid athlete, in school her favourite sport was track and field. She was very fast and competed around central Alberta. Later in life she and Oliver were involved with the Alix Curling Club and Shirley competed in the Alberta Provincial playdowns and won the Canadian Forester Curling championship numerous times. They also taught the family to value the simple things in life such as camping, fishing, and hunting.
Shirley and Oliver had many wonderful friends in the community, and they would often help others by giving what they could which was often their time. Shirley played mandolin with a band of their friends, she loved to bake and could always be relied on to bring a pie, and her garden was legendary to the
point of having one neighbour who would sneak in for strawberries.
One of the most devastating moments of her life was when she and Oliver returned from Red Deer to find the farm had been hit by a tornado. The house was badly damaged, the crop was gone, the barn was gone and so were some of the animals. After a long cry, she did what she always did and got to work cleaning up.
Shirley was always proud of her family and loved to see the family grow and overtime sixteen grandchildren came along, Melody (Conrad), Chris (Ian), Trevor, Sherri, Dean (Tammy), Lisa (Jeff), Lori (Branden), Jeff (Mel), Jennifer (Evan), Jeramy (Megan), Candy, Dan (Kay), Rhandi (Ty), Luc (Syd), Ella (Spencer) and Hayden (Caeley). With time comes more family and great-grandchildren, twenty-two and counting. All of this because two people fell in love.
She will be lovingly remembered by all who knew her.
Shirley was predeceased by her husband Oliver; their son Roger and granddaughter Mel; her mother and father, Pike, and Ella Thomas; and by her sister Annetta Stump and her brother Walter Thomas. She is survived by her sisters Betty LeBouthillier and Darlene Whitney, and sister-in-law Evelyn Mattie.
A Memorial Service will be held at the Alix Community Hall on Friday, August 16, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Alberta.
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April 12 1933 August 4 2024 91 Years Old
Death notice for the town of: Wetaskiwin, Province: Alberta
death notice Shirley May Thomas Mattie April 12 1933 August 4 2024 91 Years Old
obituaries notice Shirley May Thomas Mattie April 12 1933 August 4 2024 91 Years Old
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Shirley May Thomas Mattie April 12 1933 August 4 2024 91 Years Old and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
