Obituary of Shirley BRAY

September 12, 1929 -Souris, Manitoba

July 11, 2020 – Calgary, Alberta

After a full and wonderful life, Shirley passed away peacefully on July 11, 2020 in Calgary, AB at the age of 90.

Shirley was born in Souris, MB to parents Ada & Bill Walker. She and her twin sister, Sheila worked hard on the family farm alongside their younger brother, Ted.

Baseball was a big part of Shirley’s life in her early years. From 1948 to 1952 she played for the Rumfords Ladies/Curly McKay’s Girls Softball team inducted into the Manitoba Softball Hall of Fame in 2014. Married to her true love Mert Bray in 1951, Shirley moved with him to Alexander making close friends there and later moved to Brandon. They joined the former Brandon Golf & Country Club where they spent summers golfing and winters curling while making many great friends. Staying at Clear Lake and golfing in the Tamarack Golf Tournament also added to the family’s summers. In addition to sports both Mert & Shirley loved to garden and were active members of St. Matthews Cathedral in Brandon.

Although Shirley was an avid golfer, curling became her passion as a player, teacher and coach. She became a dedicated volunteer & served on the executive of the Manitoba Ladies Curling Association, including a term as President in 1980-81. Shirley helped establish officiating programs, was one of the first Manitoba officials & assisted in the development of the formal Canadian Curling Association officiating training programs, also serving as an on-ice official at provincial & national championships over a 30 year period. She was an innovator in the development of the Curl Canada instructional program and served as the Manitoba Curling Association’s Westman Curl Canada Coordinator, over that same 30 year period. This involved designing training sessions to develop coaches and instructors, conducting skills clinics from basic to advanced & conducting numerous training sessions for adults & junior curlers throughout the Westman region. She helped children learn the game with the Little Rockers program and coached ACC men’s and ladies college teams. For that dedication, she was inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame, both as a curler/builder. Shirley was also inducted into the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame along with her teammates on the Mabel Mitchel team.

Shirley was a great mom and always had time for her family, leading by example and there when asked for advice. After she and Mert moved to Calgary in 2014 they were able to spend much more time with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Our family was fortunate to have mom, grandma and GG in our lives for so many years.

Shirley is survived by her brother Ted (Jan); daughter Sandy (Tim); grandsons Cary (Jeannie), Tyler (Katherine, and great-granddaughters Sloane and Maisie), Joel (Jamie and great-grandchildren Willa and Jude) and Kelly (Laura and great-grandchildren Rudy and Ada).She is predeceased by her father Bill; sister Sheila; mother Ada; daughter-in law Judy; husband Mert; and son Reg.

We will hold a small family gathering in Calgary to celebrate Shirley’s life. The family would like to thank the staff, especially the nurses, at the Auburn Heights Retirement Residence for their care and concern for her. Thank you also to the compassionate doctors and nurses at The Foothills Hospital. Rather than flowers should you choose to make a charitable donation please consider The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Shirley’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

In living memory of  Shirley Bray, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Deerfoot South, 12281 – 40th STREET SE, CALGARY, AB T2Z 4E6, Telephone: 403-203-0525.