Obituary of Shirley Nelson
Born: Neilburg, Saskatchewan: September, 1935
Died: James Bay, Victoria, British Columbia: February 28, 2025
Shirley Nelson passed away after a short struggle with influenza in James Bay, Victoria, BC on February 28, 2025 at the age of 89 years.
Shirley leaves to mourn and remember: her beloved sons, Darryl and Kelly (Julia); her four daughters, Cheryl Ann, Della, Glenna (Andy) and Gay (Paul); grandchildren, Sheldon (Crissy), Brittany, Sarah Ann and Erin; great-grandchildren, Joshua, Nevada, Brody, Christian and Asher; and step great-grandson, Easton.
The Memorial Service for Shirley will be conducted from St. James United, Neilburg, SK on Saturday, April 19, 2025 at 11:00 am.
Shirley was born on her parents’ (Wallace and Jean Orr) farm south of Neilburg, SK. She was the couple’s second daughter. Wallace was one of the lucky farmers not devastated by the Depression. In the late forties, Wallace purchased a farm north of Neilburg. The family referred to their new farm as “Charlie Officer’s place”. Shirley loved farm life. In the cold weather she rode to school in the Cutter and skied behind horses. She had a puppy and raised a calf. Highlights of Shirley’s younger years were: singing MY SWEET LITTLE ALICE BLUE GOWN at a Christmas concert and selling enough tickets to be crowned Carnival Queen.
As a young teen, Shirley and her sister, (Irene) were sent to a Boarding home in Battleford, SK. This was done to enable Shirley and Irene to attend High School in Battleford. The girls returned to the Farm on weekends and holidays. However, by then school was not Shirley’s top priority. Shirley had caught the eye of fellow farm boy, Irving Nelson, when Irving bid on Shirley’s lunch at a Box Social. Irving lived just a few miles north of Charlie Officer’s Place. Shirley thought Irving resembled James Dean as he cruised by her home in an old Model T Ford. Shirley and Irving were married in November 1951.
When their second child was two, Shirley and Irving moved to Netherhill, SK. It was in Netherhill that Irving embarked on a long career as an employee of Pioneer Grain. By the mid sixties, the family had grown to include five children. The family followed Irving’s career path to Carrot River, SK and then to Melfort, SK. Kelly Irving Wallace Nelson was Shirley and Irving’s sixth child. Kelly was born in Melfort during 1977.
When Kelly was eighteen months old, Irving was promoted to Pioneer Grain Head Office in Winnipeg, Manitoba. By then Kelly’s five siblings had either left or were leaving home. Shirley, Irving and Kelly did not stay long in Winnipeg. Irving became the Chief Grain Inspector for Pioneer Grain in Calgary, Alberta. Shirley lived in Calgary for 25 years. Shirley was widowed in Calgary in 2002.
In 2008, Shirley moved to Brooks, Alberta to be near her oldest daughter, Cheryl Ann. Shirley and Cheryl relocated to Victoria, British Columbia in 2011. Shirley developed dementia in 2015. Until her death in 2025, Shirley lived ten years of her life in long term care.
Shirley was devoted to her six children. Happily, Shirley always had one or more of her children living close by. Before developing dementia, Shirley always marvelled when her children were all gathered together. Shirley would say: ‘I have my four daughters here with me! Or, “All my children are here!” These family gatherings brought Shirley great joy.
Donationsmay be made in Shirley’s name to Alzheimer's Association of Canada or Canadian Mental Health Association.
