Shirley Ann Elizabeth (Glover) Murray

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Shirley Murray, beloved mum, grandma, great-grandma, sister, and friend, on May 5th, 2025, at the age of 89.

Shirley was born on August 19th, 1935, in McCreary, Manitoba. She grew up on the family farm in nearby Norgate, alongside her older brother Kenneth and younger brother Eric. At 17, Shirley set off to the city to attend secretarial school in Winnipeg. She met her future husband there and was blessed with the birth of their twin daughters, Lynne and Lavonne. Shirley also had the good fortune of meeting her dear lifelong friend Marlene in Winnipeg. She boarded with Marlene’s family, and beyond sharing a home, they shared in countless shenanigans and an enduring friendship that lasted more than 70 years.

Shirley and her new family relocated many times, living in several remote northern communities, including Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, located just south of the Arctic Circle. She developed a deep love for ‘The North’ and cherished the countless memories and mementos she gathered during her time there. Fond recollections of sharing spreads of whale blubber, feasting on fish and seal, and traveling by snowshoe, Bombardier, and Ski-Doo—along with her collection of local artwork, carvings, and traditional clothing—served as treasured reminders of her time spent there.

In 1967, the Murrays welcomed their third daughter, Wendy, and soon after moved their growing family to Gillam, Manitoba. It was there that they were blessed with the birth of their only son, Eric, and added yet another daughter, Lesley, to their brood. In Gillam, she again had the good fortune of meeting another dear lifelong friend, Anne. Shirley and Anne shared in many adventures over the years—among them, a six-week road trip to the Yukon at the tender ages of 69 and 71. They tented their way up the Alaskan Highway, collecting more mementos and memories along the way.

While living in Gillam, Shirley and her husband purchased a farm in Eden, Manitoba, where they looked forward to moving and raising their family. However, Shirley’s husband passed away the night before the family was to board the train south. Shirley bravely faced the journey ahead and boarded the train alone with her children.

Once Shirley got her family settled in Eden, she took on casual work as a secretary at J.M. Young School, and with her youngest in tow, cleaned rooms in Neepawa to help make ends meet. After a couple of years in Eden, she sold the farm and moved with her three youngest children to Neepawa, where she worked as a secretary at Parrish & Heimbecker and took on casual secretarial work at HMK School.

Shortly after moving to Neepawa, Shirley endured the heartbreaking loss of her daughter Lynne in a tragic car accident. Not long after, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor and underwent an extensive, life-saving surgery. Shirley spent a year in Health Sciences Centre recovering and undergoing rehabilitation from the trauma of the operation. Shirley experienced numerous obstacles, including expressive aphasia as a result of the surgery and faced this, along with the added challenges of raising her three young children on her own, with unwavering tenacity and resilience. Shirley continued to live her life with strength and determination.

When Shirley returned to Neepawa from the Health Sciences Centre, she was sadly no longer able to drive her prized blue Cougar. Despite experiencing partial paralysis on her right side, she walked absolutely everywhere, carrying her belongings with her ‘good’ arm on the long walks home. Shirley was regularly accompanied on these treks by a German Shepherd—Candy, the neighbor’s dog—who followed her everywhere. In spite of her owners’ disapproval, Candy was determined to chaperone Shirley and would not be dissuaded. She waited patiently outside each store Shirley entered, then walked protectively by her side all the way home.

Shirley was a creative soul and enjoyed hobbies such as painting, crocheting, and baking. She was a master seamstress and skillfully stitched daughter Lavonne’s wedding gown and bridesmaids’ dresses. Her talent was displayed in her kids’ handsewn clothes and in the design and sewing of dozens of outfits for Wendy’s Barbies. Shirley was such a gifted seamstress, she even made bras! Her love of working with fabric may have influenced her tendency to be a clotheshorse—her closets overflowed and were continually being added to.

To put it mildly, Shirley had a sweet tooth. She did her best to keep her stashes of pop and candy a secret, hoping to avoid having to share with anyone. Her freezer was well-stocked with an assortment of homemade pies and cookies, and she was kept busy maintaining its inventory, which was frequently the target of her kids’ and their friends’ hunt for late-night munchies.

Shirley loved sports and was a fierce fan of both the Blue Jays and Blue Bombers. Her love for her teams brought her much joy—and disappointment. Her passion for her teams was punctuated with either enthusiastic cheers or her signature, pithy, "Dammit all anyways!".

Shirley loved life, and it showed. She smiled easily and laughed often. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends.

Shirley was predeceased by her daughter Lynne, her brother Kenneth, and her parents Howard and Nellie. She is survived by her children, Lavonne (Eric), Wendy, Eric, and Lesley (Cory); her grandchildren, Tanya, Darryl (Terri), and Emily (Liam); and her great-grandchildren, Bradley, Kyla, and Boyd.

A graveside service will be held on Friday, May 30, 2025, at 11:00 AM at Kelwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Jocelyn House Hospice, whose exceptional staff provided loving care to Shirley in her final days.

To learn about Jocelyn House visit:

https://www.jocelynhouse.ca/

If you wish to donate:

https://www.jocelynhouse.ca/donate_now.php  

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