Shirley McNEELY

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McNEELY: Shirley Irene McNeely (née Popple), 1935-2018. After a brief illness, Shirley passed away peacefully surrounded by family members at the Grey Nuns Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta on October 24, 2018. Born in Minto, Manitoba, she grew up on a nearby farm, helping out where she could, while not getting too much under foot with her three siblings. After graduating from the Minto School, she entered Brandon College to pursue a teaching degree. While there, she met her future husband, Trevor McNeely. Shirley put her career aspirations on hold to raise 4 children in Spain and in Alberta, before returning with Trevor to Brandon. Shirley’s strong desire for higher education and interest in contributing to the community led her to embark on her own professional career. She enrolled in Assiniboine Community College where she graduated with a diploma in Business Administration. With diploma in hand she returned to the work force and then studied diligently to achieve her CGA designation in 1983. She worked for a local accounting firm for a number of years, before opening the doors to her own firm. She successfully ran the firm until her retirement in the 1990’s. In some aspects Shirley was a trailblazer. From early on she knew her life and career were not to be in farming or in agriculture. She pushed back against established societal conventions. She embraced feminism and stood firm about what she wanted to do and achieve. When she returned to school and then established her career, she faced the typical inequalities experienced by professional women at the time. She was known to voice her concerns. This strength of character was also exemplified by her determination to live life to the fullest after suffering a stroke and undergoing treatment for breast cancer. After overcoming breast cancer, she joined the local Waves of Hope Dragon Boat rowing team, where she was both an active competitor and member of the team executive. Following the passing of her husband, Shirley moved to Edmonton where she lived independently until her death. Shirley was an exemplary mother, cook, seamstress and family manager. She instilled in her children the importance of hard work, responsibility, fairness, compassion, and respect. The kitchen and its table were the scene of many joyful times. Cards, meals, parties, and arguments all happened around the dinner table. She was skilled at bridge, cribbage and many other card games. In cards, she was always happy to place a “small” bet, but as pleased to win it back. She was known for her dry sense of humour, both willing to share as to laugh at a joke at her expense. Shirley’s other pleasures included reading, solving crossword puzzles, playing the sports critic while watching curling and baseball on TV, and traveling. Through her long life, she seemed to have crossed the world, first to Europe as a young mother and then to vacation on the East coast of the United States or the Caribbean while working as an accountant and again in retirement. Her favorite trips were to Asia, the Philippines, and especially Australia. She crisscrossed Canada by planes, trains and automobiles from BC to Ontario visiting cherished family and close friends. She was predeceased by her husband Trevor, her parents Gordon and Grace Popple, and her brother Dave. She is survived by her sisters Marilyn Pugh (Mark), Betty Ann Kraft (Roger), children Ruth, Gary (Wendy Untereiner), Dale (Margie) and Jim (Val), grandchildren Jessica Webber (Rogan McLean), Lindsey Saville (Jim), Grace, Linette Anderson (Scott), Trevor, Bradley, and Donal, and great-grandchildren Nolan, Averly, Jeffrey, and Alice. Details of a Celebration of Life to be held in the spring will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba, 6 Donald Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3L 0K6, or to CancerCare Manitoba, 675 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3E 0V9.  Condolences may be emailed to meaningful@telus.netArrangements in care of Meaningful Memorials Funeral Service, Red Deer, Alberta 587-876-4944

As published in Brandon Sun on Nov 14, 2018