Shirley Gibson

Shirley Gibson, aged 85 years of Moose Jaw, SK, passed away on Sunday, February 7th, 2016 at Extendicare Nursing Home.  She was the longest residing guest there since having a stroke in 2003.  Shirley was born to Frieda and Win Gibson on May 2nd, 1931 in Edmonton, AB.  She grew up at her mother’s small resort, the Twig Inn at Seba Beach, while her father was overseas in the Canadian Air Force.  In 1948, she married Navarre (Buck) Massey and on June 14th, 1950 gave birth to her daughter Sandra Lynn.  Shirley and Buck parted ways in March 1951.  Shirley then moved from Edmonton to Moose Jaw and her daughter moved with Shirley’s mom Frieda and step-dad Roy George to Mayerthorpe, AB and then to British Columbia.  Over the years Shirley had a variety of jobs in Moose Jaw.  One of her nurses, Lori-Lynn, worked with her in 1981 or 82 cleaning at Kalium Chemicals Potash Mine.  Lori-Lynn remembers Shirley as a lady who was full of fun.  She would go with a friend every Saturday to the Brunswick Hotel to listen to the jam sessions.  She loved the Blue Jays, a myriad of friends, parties, cooking and ice cold Canadian beer.  Shirley and her daughter Sandy rarely spoke through the years for any other reason than distance and life carrying on.  They kind of lost track of each other, until through friends, Sandy found out Shirley had a stroke.  A friend’s sister who worked at the home found out about Sandy when she was speaking to Shirley one day and sent her a letter telling Sandy she thought Shirley would like to establish a relationship.  Soon after that Sandy flew to Moose Jaw to visit her and continued to do so two or three times a year since 2005.  Shirley is survived by her daughter, Sandy Lewis (Tom); granddaughter, Rose; great-granddaughter, Kaylee; and the nurses and caregivers at Extendicare who were truly Shirley’s family and friends.  Thank you so much to the wonderful, kind, caring people at Extendicare who were Shirley’s family since 2003.  In keeping with Shirley’s wishes, no Funeral Service will be held.  Arrangements are entrusted to Moose Jaw Funeral Home, 268 Mulberry Lane.  Gary McDowell, Funeral Director 306-693-4550