William (Bill) Francis Shiers

William (Bill) Francis Shiers, aged 72 years of Moose Jaw, SK, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, August 1st, 2016 while camping in Golden, BC.  Born in Windsor, Nova Scotia, Dad was the second child of three of the late Thomas and Kathleen Shiers.  In his teens Dad’s family moved to Ontario.  Dad, never a fan of school, took on other interests and eventually dropped out of high school.  A short time later, in an effort to return back to Nova Scotia, Dad joined the Royal Canadian Navy.  This venture happened to work to his benefit not only in getting him back home, but also afforded him the opportunity to meet our mother who was also serving in the Navy.  The Navy provided Dad the opportunity to travel the world and, as he would put it, “drink his fill”, which if you knew him years ago, you’d have recognized this as a significant selling point for him.  Upon leaving the Navy our parents headed west to pursue opportunities.  Dad was undaunted by the challenge of moving and as a result we were back and forth between Moose Jaw, Ontario and Nova Scotia while Dad and Mom hunted for the best place to raise their family.  Eventually settling in Moose Jaw, Dad finished his G.E.D. and attended Saskatchewan Technical Institute (STI) to become a welder.  Dad worked numerous jobs as a welder through the 70’s and 80’s followed by a brief stint as a civil servant at the Regina Armouries.  Always wanting to contribute and better his community, Dad served a term on the Moose Jaw Board of Police Commissioners in the 90’s, working with local police and community members to aid the police in better serving the citizens of Moose Jaw.  In 1992 Dad obtained the lease to operate River Park Campground in Moose Jaw.  Both he and Mom ran the campground for 19 years prior to retiring in 2012.  During all this time Dad was involved in numerous other endeavours such as real estate, designing mobile grain transit systems, tile manufacturing, and just about anything else that may have sparked an interest.  Always seeking the “Holy Grail” of opportunities, Dad was unrelenting.  Dad loved horses.  Through the years he trained and raced and traveled with his own Standardbred horses.  He also owned a horse and wagon tour operation in the 90’s providing tourists a tour of downtown pulled behind a team of heavy horses.  Dad worked a stint as a cattle driver in Southern Saskatchewan, where he lived out what was likely his “heaven” – riding horses in free range country surrounded by nature with nothing and no one to bother him.  Dad had many struggles through his years but was always able to rely on our mother.  After almost 53 years of marriage, our Mother passed away earlier this year.  With her passing Dad was affronted with having to determine his next steps in life.  Both he and our mother loved their years running the campground (off season especially).  So after Mom’s passing, Dad hashed out his plans, bought an RV, and set his sights on wintering in BC.  This last weekend he headed to Golden, BC, set up his RV and suddenly and without notice, passed on to join our mother.  He was predeceased by his wife, Sandra; parents, Thomas and Kathleen; and brother, Thomas (Tommy) Shiers.  Bill is survived by his sons, Brett and Mark (Cheryl) Shiers of Moose Jaw, SK; daughters, Crystal (Kirby) Froese and Christine (Todd) Marasse of Moose Jaw, SK; son, Billy Shiers of St Johns, FL; daughter, LoAnne (Sandy Smith) of Elk Point, AB; sister, Kelly Shiers; grandchildren: Kanon, Maddison, Makailah, Makencie, Emily, Abby, Katy and Ella; as well as several nieces and nephews.  A Celebration of Bill’s Life will be held on Saturday, August 13th, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. in Moose Jaw Funeral Home with Dennis and Brenda Boyce officiating.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill’s memory may be made to The Moose Jaw Humane Society, Box 1658 Station Main, Moose Jaw, SK S6H 7K7 or to a charity of one’s choice.  Arrangements are entrusted to Moose Jaw Funeral Home, 268 Mulberry Lane.  Gary McDowell, Funeral Director 306-693-4550