SHIRLEY E. JOHNSON (JIRA)

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SHIRLEY E. JOHNSON (nee JIRA) Peacefully, on December 12, 2004, following a long and courageous battle with cancer, Shirley Johnson (nee Jira) passed away, with Ernie and her family at her side, at 61 years of age. Left to cherish her memory is her loving husband of 41 years, Ernie Johnson; daughters, Mona (Jerry) Allen of Selkirk, Lisa (Donnie) Miller of Ashern; and her grandchildren, Meaghan, Trista, Chelsey and Andrew; also her mother Hilda Jira of Winnipegosis; brother Al (Sandra) of Winnipegosis; and sister Elaine (Tom) Bent of Toronto, ON; and many aunts and uncles, cousins, numerous in-laws, nieces and nephews. Shirley was predeceased by her father Lawrence Jira, of Winnipegosis. Shirley was born in Calder, SK, and moved to Winnipegosis as a young girl. She attended Winnipegosis Collegiate until she moved to Winnipeg and began working for the Bank of Nova Scotia. In 1963, Shirley and Ernie were married and then resided in Steinbach. She continued working in a bank, this time with CIBC, and Ernie was working for Manitoba Hydro. Shortly after, they moved to Falcon Lake and began their family. In 1970, the family moved to Lynn Lake. Shirley worked at the local paper, the Northern Breeze, for a few years and then at the local Sears outlet. Shirley was a member of many community groups including the Kinettes, the Hospital Auxiliary, as well as involvement in the Old Timer hockey and figure skating. She enjoyed curling, especially the Ladies Bonspiels in Leaf Rapids and other places, when she and the girls (Bette, Marg, and Sharon) would enter a team and have a get-away weekend. In 1979, another move, this time to Ashern, which became home. Shirley enjoyed being closer to family and, of course, the warmer winters. She continued her curling, teaming up with Carol, Stella, Sandra S. and Shirley B. Now living down south, Shirley discovered the joys of gardening again. The past years, her green thumb had been quite evident in the yard. She especially loved her lily garden and her roses. Another activity she enjoyed and turned into a small business was her crafts. She and Ernie worked together making many beautiful and creative items. Please join us for a celebration of her life on Saturday, December 18 at 2:00 p.m. at the Ashern Centennial Hall with Melanie Kauppila officiating. Honorary pallbearers are her curling chums, her bingo buddies, work pals and special friends Natha B., Linda K., Kathy A., Carol A., Jane B., Joan W., and the out-laws Bette and Marg; and her school chum Blinkie. We would like to express our thanks and appreciation to all the staff at Ashern Hospital, CancerCare Manitoba (St. Boniface), homcare, friends and family for their wonderful care of Shirley, and her family. The cards, food, visits, phone calls and prayers meant much to her. In lieu of flowers, donations in Shirley's memory may be made to the Lakeshore Hospital Guild, Ashern Palliative Care Unit, in care of Julie Bergner, Box 721, Ashern, MB R0C 0E0. arrangements by: ARNASON FUNERAL HOMES LTD. Ashern - Lundar 768-2072

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 17, 2004