MATHESON, SHIRLEY PHYLLIS - Surrounded by her loving family, Shirley Phyllis Matheson entered into rest at the Charlotte County Hospital, St. Stephen, on Friday, July 27, 2012. She was the wife of the late Leonard Beverly Matheson and the daughter of the late Albert Stillman and Phyllis Pearl (Wilkins) Stuart. Born in St. Stephen on March 7, 1925, Shirley was raised on the Old Bay Road, attended the Crocker Hill School and graduated from the Gilbert White Ganong Memorial High School in St. Stephen and the Provincial Normal School in Fredericton. After a short teaching career, she married in 1945. She and Leonard first made their home on the Old Bay Road, moving to Little Ridge in 1950, where she dedicated her life to the raising and nurturing of their ten children and the many neighbourhood children she cared for over the years. An active member of the Anglican Parish of St. Stephen, she attended Christ Church and St. Peter's Church, serving for many years as Sunday School teacher and superintendent. She also served on Vestry and was a member of the Anglican Church Women and Bethany. She was Past Noble Grand of Olive Rebekah Lodge # 18, St. Stephen, and a member of the Friendship Club in Little Ridge. For many years she was a volunteer at Lincourt Manor and supported many charities. Shirley is survived by her children: Beverly Nelson (Cecil) of Little Ridge, Elizabeth Matheson of St. Stephen, Jane Lyons (Donald) of St. Stephen, Margaret Paradis (David) of Barrie, ON, Patricia Richards (Gordon) of St. Stephen, John (Ellen) of Saint Andrews, Stillman (Jane) of Hamilton, ON, Kimberly Matheson (late Victor Brotz) of Wolfville, NS, Michael of Little Ridge and David (Janel) of Toronto, ON, 24 grandchildren, 31 great- grandchildren; two sisters, Charlotte Gowan (late Norman) of St. Stephen, Sally (Jack) Smith of Calais, ME, and one brother, Stillman (Shirley) Stuart of The Ledge. She is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Bessie Stuart (late Joseph) of Edmonton, AB and Myrtle Madsen (late Hazen) of St. Stephen and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Besides her husband and parents, she was predeceased by her stepmother, Elizabeth (Wilkins) Stuart; brothers: Albert, Jack, Joseph and Vincent and grandson, Jesse Coughlan.
The family will receive visitors at Humphreys' Funeral Home, 20 Marks Street, St. Stephen on Monday, July 30 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 pm. Olive Rebekah Lodge # 18 will hold a service at the funeral home on Monday at 7:00 pm. A Memorial Service will be held at Christ Church, 30 Prince William Street, St. Stephen on Tuesday, July 31 at 2:00 pm, with a reception following in Trinity Hall. A family interment will take place at a later time. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Peter's Church, St. Stephen, Lincourt Manor, Canadian Diabetes Assoc. or any charity of choice. Online condolences may be placed at www.humphreysfh.com