Gladys SHANKS

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SHANKS: Gladys Mary (née Airey) of Brandon, Manitoba, after a very brief, but brave battle with cancer, passed away with her family at her side on October 23, 2009 at the Assiniboine Centre. Gladys was born January 2, 1938 in Hamiota Hospital. She spent her early years on the family farm near Kenton, Manitoba growing up with her seven brothers and sisters. She moved to Brandon after high school and it was there that she met her future husband, Jim Shanks. Gladys was the bookkeeper and the financial guru for the family business Shanks Auto Electric, as well as being a great stay at home mother to two boys. It was evident early on that Gladys had a gift for taking care of people. She looked after her parents for many years and husband Jim with his illness until his passing in 2002. Gladys was always putting on family functions and made sure that her large family stayed in touch with each other after their parents had passed on. No one left her kitchen with an empty stomach, no matter how many showed up unannounced for dinner. A great mother, she was always hauling one son or the other to hockey, baseball, curling, scouts or whatever her sons were into. It was through sports that she met some wonderful ladies who were lifelong friends. Although she had numerous friends, Gladys and the "old broads" as she use to call them were always on the go. The four ladies made it a point to celebratebirthdays, anniversaries and just about anything for an excuse to go out together and socialize. The past number of years Gladys had joined the lunch staff at Brockies and enjoyed the time there and especially liked the baking that she had to do for the luncheons. Her biggest passion though was family. Gladys leaves to mourn her passing, her sons Mark and wife Coralea, and Craig and wife Nancy, both of Brandon. She also leaves behind her adopted grandchildren, Tim and Maria Braun of Winnipeg, Candace and Bill Amirault of Hollywood, FL and John Braun and Tara Besser of Brandon; as well as great grandchildren Bianca and Rocco Braun of Winnipeg and Jaelynn and Ali Besser of Brandon. Gladys is survived by her sisters, Wanda Thomson of Brandon, Lynda and her husband Cornie Wiebe of St. Albert, AB, Doreen Bates and companion Don of Neepawa, Eve and husband Earl Argyle of Oak Bank and brothers Wilf Airey of Swift Current, SK, Lloyd Airey and wife Dianna of Kenton, MB and Ab and companion Kaye of Oak River, MB. She also leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews and brothers and sisters-in-law. She was predeceased by her husband of 44 years, Jim, as well as her parents Edith and Albert Airey of Kenton, Manitoba. A service to celebrate Gladys' life was held at Trinity United Church on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 with Reverend Wayne Sanderson presiding. Cremation has taken place and a private family interment took place at Rosewood Memorial Gardens prior to the celebration of Gladys' life. Donations in memory of Gladys may be made to the Brandon Regional Health Centre Foundation, Palliative Care Unit, 150 McTavish Avenue East, Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 2B3. Messages of condolence may be placed at www.brockiedonovan.com.

As published in Brandon Sun on Oct 31, 2009