May 13, 1936 - March 14, 2025
Shirley Mae Hill, 88, of Olds, Alberta, passed away on Friday, March 14, 2025, in Calgary, Alberta.
She was born on May 13, 1936 to Margaret Eleanor MacLeod and Charles Purdy Blair in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Shirley attended nursing school and became an RN. She had a daughter, Deanne, who was adopted and they were happily reunited later in life. Shirley married Robert “Bob” Hill on July 30, 1960 and together they had three children; Doug, Donna and Bruce.
Shirley had a zest for life and loved interacting with others. She was the one who would always put her hand up and was a dedicated volunteer in the Olds community. Shirley “the shark” was the Head Coach of the Olds Marlins Swim Club, a member of the Olds Grizzlys Executive Board, statistician and hosted more than 150 hockey players throughout the years. She also liked to play cribbage, curling, and basketball; and enjoyed participating in Girl Guides, Explorers, the Olds food bank, Hospital volunteer, Legion events, and Alberta Seniors Games.
Shirley had an open mind full of kindness and welcomed the opportunity to support those in need. More recently, she was also proud to be selected as a representative voice for seniors' perspectives for the Olds Community Future Development Committee. Shirley loved to read, sew, knit and excelled at crossword puzzles. Her chili and scalloped potatoes were outstanding while boiling carrots on the other hand, most often resulted in a fire alarm experience. She had a preference to paint her walls rather than wash them. Her quick wit, sarcastic humor, wry smile and willingness to share her opinion - whether you wanted it or not are renowned by family and friends. Her default stance on most things was “I'm sorry, I don't take orders. I barely take suggestions”.
She spent her younger years involved with her dad (coach) and brother’s baseball team. She loved following the Blue Jays. Gardening and collecting garage sale finds were her favorite Saturday activities. She also enjoyed going on car rides to Denver for Bruce’s hockey or to Salmon Arm to visit her brother Don and Ginny for a good dose of apples and liver. On an Alberta blue sky day, after her morning coffee with friends, she would slip down to Didsbury for a Screamer (ice cream and slush).
She went on many adventures with her Red Hatter ladies such as being robbed, for fun, yes you heard that right, on the Alberta Prairie Railway ride. Many weekends she could be found cheering for her family at various hockey rinks, dance studios, volleyball gyms/beach courts, soccer pitches, ball diamonds, orchestra halls or all kinds of pools for water polo, synchro and swim meets. You could find her organizing ribbons and awards at the meets with occasional breaks to cheer loudly for her grandkids on the pool deck. Shirley was fiercely proud of her family, a true mama bear who was always her kids, grandkids and great-grandkid's biggest fan. She was gregarious, kind, opinionated and full of life. We will all miss having her in the stands to cheer us on.
Shirley is survived by her brother, Don (Ginny) Blair; daughters, Deanne (Rick) and Donna (Harold); sons, Doug (Heide) and Bruce; grandchildren, Melinda (Rolland), Bryan (Melanie) Alynn (Marko), Bryce, Tessa (Brett), Grant and Kobe; great-grandchildren, Lucas, Claire and Liam; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and family.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bob and partner Rolyn Winter.
The family would like to thank the staff at the Olds Hospital, Seasons Retirement Home in Olds, and Cedar Villas in Calgary for the care and compassion they provided for Shirley. For those wishing to honor Shirley’s memory, donations can be made to the Olds General Hospital at their website https://www.oldshealthdonations.com. or phone 1-780-361-4130 for any additional information. As per her wishes, a small private family gathering will be held at a later date. Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded to the family via the website www.fostersgardenchapel.ca. FOSTER'S GARDEN CHAPEL, FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORIUM, Telephone: 403-297-0888 Honoured Provider of Dignity Memorial
