Shirley Lorraine (MacDonald) Mason, of MacMillan Avenue, Stellarton, passed away April 22, 2010 at home. Born in New Glasgow on March 14, 1936, she was a daughter of the late Wallace and Margaret (Cameron) MacDonald. After graduating from Stellarton High School she entered the Aberdeen Hospital School of Nursing graduating in 1957. She spent most of the next 24 years as a military wife raising three children, who were all very active in sports, she being their biggest fan. When she and her husband Les retired in 1981 in Stellarton, Shirley became quite involved in volunteering as she did in military life. She taught Brownies and Guides and was District Commissioner in Shannon Park. In Stellarton she volunteered at the Blood Donor Clinics and was secretary for the Stellarton Ladies Auxiliary to the Aberdeen Hospital. She received her life membership from the Nova Scotia Hospital Association. She was secretary of the Miriam Unit of Sharon St. John United Church UCW. She loved to feed the birds and to garden and could quite often be found sitting out when the weather was nice. Her special time of the year was the fall season with all the beautiful colors on the trees. After dealing with diabetes for 53 years and arthritis, she had hoped that someday a cure would be found for both. Donations in her memory may be made to either cause. In place of flowers, today give a hug and a smile to all for her. Leaving behind to mourn is her husband, Les (Babe) of 53 years; sons, Wayne (Linda), Moncton; Glenn, Dartmouth; a daughter, Cathy, Stellarton; granddaughters, Lillian and Brittany Mason, Moncton; three step-grandchildren: Matthew, Trevor and Caitlyn Matchett, Moncton; a sister, Florence Manuel, Westville; brothers, Art (Wanda), MacLellan's Brook; Bill, Porter's Lake; brothers-in-law: Granville (Hazel), Stellarton; Everett (Sharon), Ontario; Gerry (Sheila), New Glasgow; Robert (Jeanine), Ontario; sister-in-law, Geraldine, Alberta; also many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, Wallace and Margaret MacDonald; mother-in-law, Rose Davidson; sister-in-law, Doreen Fraser; and a still born son, Paul Thomas.
Her remains rested in the H.C. MacQuarrie Funeral Home, Stellarton, for visiting from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday. Funeral service was held at 6 p.m. Sunday, April 25th from the Sharon St. John United Church, Stellarton, with Rev. John Roy officiating. Reception to follow in the church hall. Cremation to take place with burial of ashes in Heatherdale Memorial Gardens at a later date. Donations in memory of Shirley may be made to the Canadian Diabetes Association or to the Arthritis Society - Nova Scotia Division.