Shirley Isobel Simpson passed away peacefully at the age of 77 years on Monday, February 6, 2012 at the Golden Door Geriatric Centre in Winnipeg, MB. Shirley was born on December 25, 1934, the first child to George and Annie Hutchison of Lenore, MB. She attended grade school in Lenore and continued on to get secondary education in Brandon in bookkeeping. She met and married her soul-mate, Robert (Bob) Simpson on July 9th, 1955. Shirley and Bob had two children - Shannon in 1957 and Ian in 1959. They started out their married life living in Virden, MB but in 1961 they moved to Saskatchewan living in Dubuc, Bangor and then Bredenbury, where they remained until Shirley's health dictated a move to Winnipeg in December of 2007. Shirley was a stay at home mom until Shannon and Ian started school, helping Bob out with bookkeeping and other tasks at the businesses where he worked. She started working at Thorsness Hardware shortly after they moved to Bredenbury and worked there until her retirement in 1999. Shirley was a devoted wife and mother. She wasn't overly demonstrative with her affections but she was always willing to go that extra mile to help her children. She had a way of "negotiating" that only Ian could understand. Her insistence on taking care of Bob only became an issue when she wasn't able to remember what pills she had given him already. Even at that point, she fought giving up that responsibility as she felt it was her job to take care of him. Shirley was an avid sports enthusiast. Her 1954 -1957 "Lenore Ladies" team, was inducted into the Manitoba Softball Hall of Fame in 2006 for their remarkable win/loss record. She also enjoyed curling, making it all the way to the Saskatchewan Playdowns with her team one year. You could always tell when she was on the curling ice as you could hear her very distinct voice echoing off the rafters in the curling rink. She loved the curling and especially the "bonspieling" that went with it. There is many a picture floating around showing the fun these ladies had getting into the spirit of the events. A few years before retirement she started golfing and even won a couple of tournaments. She also loved to sew. This talent helped out when money was not readily available for new clothes. As children we sometimes felt "cheated" by mom's handmade clothes, but came to understand how much of herself she put into those clothes for us. Once her granddaughters were a little older she sewed each of them a quilt which they will treasure forever. Another of mom's abilities was hairdressing. She adamantly believed that everyone's hair should be kept short and in Ian's case - really short, much to his chagrin. She also did a few of her friend's hair and Shannon and Ian figured she must have listened to what they wanted done better than she did to them because they always came back! Shirley didn't have the love of animals that Bob had, but after a few years of marriage and him bringing home every stray he came across, she adapted. Her tolerance really showed the day Bob came home with a whole herd of horses. She did appreciate a good horseback ride and wasn't scared to get on even the unruliest of horses, in fact probably enjoyed them more. If she was ever offered a saddle for the horse she always said she didn't know how to ride with a saddle and much preferred riding bareback. Both Shirley and Bob loved camping. Many a fun summer passed at one of their favourite camp sites. They both especially enjoyed the times when their children and grandchildren came to spend a few days with them. Shirley was an active member of the Bredenbury community, participating in Lion's functions, the Light Up Committee, United Church choir and the Curling Club when it was in existence. She was a member and former President of the Busy Bees. She, along with Bob, tried to be good neighbours always watching out for each other on their street and in the community. One of the joys in Shirley and Bob's life was the time they got to spend with their grandson, Brandon when he was growing up. They didn't get to see their other grandchildren too often so when Brandon was born they happily helped Ian raise him, developing a close relationship along the way that benefited all of them. The family was devastated with Shirley's official diagnosis of Alzheimer's in the spring of 2007. Due to the Alzheimer's she had already lost her independence and ability to walk and speak when she was diagnosed with untreatable lung cancer last fall. She fought a valiant fight to the end, never complaining just accepting what life was throwing at her. Shirley is survived by: son, Ian (Glenda) Simpson of Bredenbury, SK; grandson, Brandon Simpson of Estevan, SK; daughter, Shannon (Ray) Falkenberg; granddaughters, Amanda (David) Teixeira and Pamela (Brad) Halstead; great-grandchildren, Naomi and Lincoln Teixeira and Sawyer Halstead all of Winnipeg; sisters, Georgina (Wilf) Brown and Carol (Grant) Wilson and brother, Gordon (Glenda) Hutchison. In addition she leaves behind sisters-in-law, Vi Wood, Norma, Hazel, Mary and Jean Simpson; brothers-in-law, Ivan (Janice) Simpson, Roy (Dorothy) Simpson, Bill (Shirlee) Simpson, Geordie Wood, and Bill Sowiak; numerous nieces and nephews and their families; adopted family Vi(Ron) Hubick and Lyle(Jackie) Ogren and their families. Shirley was predeceased by her husband, Bob; her parents, George and Annie Hutchison; her in-laws, Frank and Enid Simpson; adopted family, Ray and Anne Ogren; brothers in-law, Elmer, George, Harvey and Lyle Simpson, Bob Saunders, Bill Lampard and John Wood; sisters-in-law, Kay Wood and Doreen Lampard and many close friends. Upon being told about Bob's passing she was able to comment"he left without me". Now she has joined him again. The Funeral Service was held on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 from the Bredenbury Town Hall in Bredenbury, SK with Reverend Walter Farquharson officiating. The organist, Mrs. Ruth Datema and members of the United Church Choir led the congregation in the singing of the hymns, "Amazing Grace", "Nearer my God to Thee" and "How Great Thou Art". Linda Cross and Connie Taylor sang a duet, "In The Garden". Friends from the Church of God in Christ (Mennonite) sang two selections, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" and "Where Could I Go But to the Lord". The United Church Choir also sang one selection, "Beyond the Sunset". The Cremation Committal followed in the Bredenbury Town Cemetery where both Shirley and her husband, Bob were interred. The urn bearer was Shirley's grandson, Brandon Simpson, accompanied by all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Friends so wishing may forward their condolences to the family by visiting www.christiesfuneralhome.com Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Christie's Funeral Home & Crematorium, Yorkton, Saskatchewan.
