It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beautiful mother, grandmother, sister and aunt, Shirley Frances Gray. She died peacefully at the age of 86 surrounded by her loving family at the Brandon Regional Health Centre in Brandon, Manitoba on Wednesday, November 14, 2018.

Shirley was a gem of a gal who touched the lives of all who knew and loved her. She was kind, loyal, fun loving and courageous and lived life to the fullest. She was the perfect blend of sweet and sassy and will be dearly missed by all.

Born in Sydney, Cape Breton on August 17, 1932, she was the daughter of Frank and Mary (Vardy) Cooper. She was predeceased by her husband Nelson, sisters Ollie and Sadie and brothers Harold, Lawrence and Roy. She leaves to mourn her passing her children Jim (Sharon) Gray, Brian Gray, Roy (Loree) Gray; and Val (Blair) Zurba; her grandchildren Rick (Viv) Gray, Rochelle (Mike) Posthumus; Justin Birin (Kayla) and Sara Birin (Jason); and her 3 great grandchildren Matthew, Ben and Serena.

Shirley was a loving mother, a devoted gramma and leaves behind countless memories we can reflect on, helping ease the sadness we feel in our hearts at this time.

Shirley and her sister Alice Gillis of Cape Breton were “two peas in a pod” and she cherished each visit and each long distance phone call they shared. Shirley was also blessed to have many loving nieces and nephews who she shared many great times with over the years. She had many great friends who she enjoyed spending time with immensely.

Shirley was a proud military wife for 56 years. Though she had to leave her island home she embraced the military life and travelled lots calling many places “home” over the years. She raised her children wherever they were “planted” at the time and always made new friends easily. They lived in New Brunswick, Germany, Petawawa ON, Shilo MB, Sydney NS and made Brandon their final home in 1975.

She was a “stay at home” Mom until her youngest (Valerie) went to kindergarten in 1968 when she began working at the Base Exchange store in Shilo. In 1975, she began working at the Met store on Rosser Ave. and gathered lifelong friends while working there. She was a member of the United Church Ladies Guild (Shilo), a longstanding member of the UCT Ladies Auxiliary in Brandon, delivered Meals on Wheels, and was an active member of St George's Anglican Church.

Shirley enjoyed knitting, sewing, crafts, bowling, shopping, casino trips, and playing cards with family and friends. She taught herself how to use a computer at age 70 allowing her to easily keep in touch with family and friends. She learned how to play cribbage at age 80 and played bingo and shuffleboard weekly. She felt so at home at Hobbs Manor for the last 6 years and made many new friends there which made her so happy.

Thanks to the wonderful staff at BRHC (all areas) for your outstanding care over the years. Donations in memory of Shirley can be made to Brandon Regional Health Centre Foundation, 150 McTavish Ave E, Brandon MB, R7A 2B3.

A celebration of Shirley’s life was held on November 19, 2018 at Memories Chapel with Rev. Jim Brown officiating. Shirley was laid to rest with her husband Nelson in the Veterans section of the Brandon Cemetery.

May she rest in peace.

Think of Me
Think of me and know that I am with you
Think of me and smile.
Think of me and know that our parting
Is only for a while.
On the days that you feel so desperate
To see my smiling face,
Just believe in your heart I am with you,
And that I’m in a beautiful place.
So think of me and remember,
All the memories in your heart,
And believe and know that this is true,
We are never really apart.