MCCASKILL; Helen Shirley Jack was born on January 29, 1940 in Cut Knife Saskatchewan; the youngest child of Alfred and Birdie Jack's 5 children. Her family lived half a mile south of Cut Knife until the house was sold in 1959, the year that both of her parents passed away. When Shirley was very young she had spinal meningitis which resulted in total hearing loss in her right ear. She married Lee Murray and they adopted two children; Douglas Carl and Helen Margaret. After 11 years of marriage, Lee passed away in April 1969. Shirley married Keith Abrams McCaskill on December 4, 1970 and they lived on the farm near Gallivan. In March of 1972, their son Alex Jack was born. They retired to Cut Knife in 1987 and built their home on Railway Avenue. Shirley was so proud of the big round window in her sitting room. This past December, Shirley and Keith celebrated 41 years of marriage. Shirley was a loving and generous person. She was a great listener and well known for her hospitality. Her door was always open to help those who needed a place to stay or a (left) ear to listen; Shirley's heart was as big as she was. Playing cards and doing jigsaw puzzles were a favorite activity that she shared with her husband Keith as well as with her grandchildren. She enjoyed gardening, crafting, baking, reading, and she really enjoyed her coffee, although not everyone felt the same way about her coffee! Friends and family were welcome around Shirley's big dining room table anytime and she fed friends and family her pineapple cheesecake, orange jello salad, chicken cutlets, macaroni and cheese whiz, homemade bread and a healthy serving of love. After holiday suppers and family meals, many hours were spent around her kitchen table playing SkipBo, crib, or Uno. Her house was always decorated for the different seasons and holidays and she proudly displayed family pictures on her walls and mirrors. She took pleasure in seeing the hummingbirds outside her kitchen window, and when Keith would bring her the first crocuses of the year. Her children will remember her for all of these things, as well as for phone calls at all hours of day or night but they knew they could return those "anytime" phone calls to tell her that the northern lights were out. Her grandchildren hold many fond memories of their Grandma Shirley. She attended their school and church concerts, baked and did crafts with them, and her youngest grandchildren had fun playing on her wheelchair and walker. The kids never had to search long to find treats and cookies in the kitchen and when they weren't banging on the piano keys they were raiding her pea patch in the garden. This past Fall Shirley started to feel unwell and shortly before her 72 birthday she was diagnosed with cancer. She accepted her diagnosis with grace and was surrounded by family when she passed away two weeks later. Left to cherish her memory are her husband Keith, son Douglas (Lisa) Murray, daughter Helen (Mike) Renaud, son Jack (Janice) McCaskill, grandchildren Amanda, Marcel, Kimberly, Julia, Charlotte, and great-granddaughter Chloe Renaud. Other family members grieving include Shirley's sister Alice Jack, sister Elizabeth "Betty" Wandell, brother Bill (Muriel) Jack, along with several nieces and nephews and their families. Shirley was predeceased by her mother Birdie, father Alfred, infant brother Elbert, foster brother Keith Woodall, her first husband Lee Murray, brother-in-law Jim Wandell, and granddaughter Abby McCaskill. The family would like to thank friends, family, and neighbors for their sympathies, gifts of food and flowers, and generous donations to the Saskatchewan Abilities Council in memory of Shirley. Their kindness and comfort has been much appreciated. ____________________________________________________
