Shirley Margaret Cooper

Shirley Margaret Cooper (nee Macdonald)
Shirley passed away peacefully in Penticton Regional Hospital, surrounded by her family, on November 16, 2017 in her 92ndyear. Predeceased by her husband Ron (1985) and
daughter Karen (2014). She is survived by her sons Grant and Don, grandchildren Jessica and Kurtis and daughter-in-law Wendy, all from the greater Vancouver area. As the sole surviving matriarch of the Cooper and Macdonald clans, she enjoyed the love and support of nieces Joan Holmes of Moosejaw and Sandy Thomas and Susan Walker, both of Okanagan Falls, and nephew Neil Macdonald, of Penticton. Shirley was born in Cranbrook and raised in Creston, BC. She settled in Penticton with husband, Ron in 1955, and found it to be the ideal community in which to raise 3 children and enjoy many friends. An avid golfer in her prime, she served a stint asLadies’ Club President at the Penticton Golf and Country Club, where she golfed for many years and made many friends. She loved card games and played bridge several times a week. She also loved her home and property on the West Bench and the stunning views up and down the valley. She worked hard in her garden, producing bumper crops of strawberries, raspberries, corn and a variety of other vegetables, which she shared freely. Her fresh-baked bread,cinnamon buns, cookies and deserts were legendary with family and neighbours. Shirley had a sharp mind with an acute memory and a quick wit. It was very difficult to put one over on her, but she loved it when you tried. Shirley was a dog lover, and had strong bonds to all her grand dogs as well as to neighbour’s pooches who would come to visit regularly She loved the outdoors and in the summer her headquarters for breaks between gardening and other chores or after golf, was a lounge chair in the shade under her favourite silver birch tree, which she described as her “office”. Over the years that tree, like the rest of u
s, lost branches, shed leaves and eventually died. But Shirley wouldn’t let it go, as its hollow trunk was the home for a variety of birds. Only recently, shortly before her passing, did that tree take a final gust of wind and come crashing to the ground. The family wishes to express their appreciation to the dedicated care workers who tended to Shirley in
her last 6 years and enabled her to spend her declining years in her beloved home. They grew to love this incredible woman, as did we all. At Shirley’s request there will be no funeral. The family will hold a private celebration of a life well lived sometime in the spring.
 

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