Shirley Irene Lois Blackmore, late of Ceylon, SK, passed away peacefully on November 25, 2024, at the age of 88 years.
Shirley was predeceased by her parents, Auguste and Irene Labelle, and her husband, Gaenel Blackmore.
Her memory will be cherished by her son Steven (Janice) and their children Tara-Lee (Andy), Britney (Tyler), and Jolisa (Wes); her son Brent (Tracy) and their children Brady (Chelsea) and Riley (Rhett); and her great-grandchildren Danika, Teegahn, Sadie, Nixon, Dax, Harlo, Levi, Elliot, Sawyer, and Saffron. She is also remembered by her sisters-in-law Florence Start (Dale), Audrey Pelletier (George), and Glenda Larson; in-laws Elaine Blackmore, Marg Blackmore, and Jack Fornari; as well as many nieces, nephews, numerous Labelle cousins and many relatives from the Cole, Ziehlke, LaBelle, Eidsness, Dionne, Charbonneau, Mowrey and Van De Velde families along with her musician friends
Shirley was born on May 16, 1936, in Radville, Saskatchewan, and grew up on the family farm in the Roundup School District south of Ceylon. She met the love of her life, Gaenel Blackmore, at one of the small schools she attended. They were married on November 11, 1957, and moved to their farm north of Ceylon in 1958. This farm became home until 2022, when they relocated to Weyburn.
Growing up on a farm with many horses was a dream come true for Shirley. She had been a horse lover since she was a small girl. Encouraged by her dad, Auguste Labelle, she spent countless hours riding and helping with the horses and cattle. She raced her horses at community sports days and fairs in the 1950s, with her favorite horse being a palomino mare named Goldie.
Shirley’s mother, Irene, was a teacher, and as a result, Shirley attended many one-room schools in the area, always in her mother’s classroom. She completed her high school education in Ceylon and worked for SaskTel in Regina for two years after graduating. She was a United Church board member and part of the Ceylon Homemaker organization. Shirley was an avid reader with a fondness for Western novels and the biggest fan of any sports her kids and grandkids participated in.
After marrying Gaenel, they began farming a few miles north of Ceylon. They grew crops, raised cattle and horses, and also kept a few milk cows. Shirley was not just a spectator in the farming operation; she could operate every piece of equipment and loved riding her horse to check cattle and move them between pastures. Fall was her favourite time of year, as it meant full-day trail rides to bring the cows from the south pastures back to their farm in Ceylon for the winter.
They raised purebred Arabian horses, and Shirley took a keen interest in researching Arabian bloodlines. This hobby took them to many horse shows, particularly enjoying the Royal Red show when it was held in Regina. Later, when they began spending winters in Arizona, they attended the large Arabian horse show in Scottsdale.
Mom loved to dance. She taught her boys and grandkids how to dance shortly after learning how to walk. Many trips were made around the kitchen getting the Waltz, Polka and foxtrot steps down pat. Mom and Dad were involved in a few square dance clubs and travelled around the prairie provinces and northern US states to attend square dance events.
Gaenel had been playing the accordion for dances since he was a teenager, and Shirley didn’t want to miss out on the fun. Shortly after they were married, she learned to play the bass guitar and banjo, becoming a part of the band.
For her grandchildren, Grandma and Grandpa’s house was the highlight of any visit, whether for a few hours or a couple of months in the summer. Time spent there was filled with dancing, card games, endless treats, picnics, and road trips—pure fun with few rules.
Mom was an incredible cook. Despite loving outdoor farm activities, she ensured there were always three square meals a day, with plenty of baked goods for the snacks in between. She could whip up a roast beef dinner with all the fixings in no time. The house always had the aroma of baking or some special dish being cooked. Anyone who has pulled up a chair for a cup of coffee can attest that it always came with some baked goods and if you got even close to a meal time, she was very persuasive in convincing you to stay for a meal.
In 2008, Shirley and Gaenel began spending their winters in Mesa, Arizona, rekindling their love for music by playing at jam sessions across the East Valley. They formed lasting friendships and played in a band called the Saskatchewan Stubble Jumpers, later renamed the Country Gold Band. For 12 years, they embraced the snowbird life, with Shirley cherishing the view of Superstition Mountain. A nature lover at heart, she appreciated travelling through Canadian forests but also grew to love the palm trees and cacti of the south.
A Celebration of Shirley’s life will be held on Friday, December 20, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. from the Ceylon United Church, Ceylon, SK with Judy Beck officiating. Luncheon will be held at the Prairie Pride Community Centre, Ceylon, SK. Interment will take place at a later date at Ceylon Cemetery, Ceylon, SK.
For those wishing to attend virtually, please follow the live stream video by opening Shirley’s memorial page on RD Family Funeral Chapel’s website starting at 1:45 p.m. on Friday, December 20, 2024.
For family and friends so wishing, charitable donations in memory of Shirley may be made to the Ceylon United Church, Ceylon, SK, S0C 0T0.
Arrangements are entrusted to RD Family Funeral Chapel & Crematorium, Weyburn, SK (848-0333 ~ 1-888-848-0333) Expressions of sympathy to the family may be sent to our website at: “Honoring Life and Celebrating Memories"
