Shirley Leona O'how, 1941 -2003

Shirley Leona O'How was born on July 8, 1941 and passed away on May 31, 2003, after a long, courageous battle with cancer at the age of 61.

Shirley was the fourth child of nine born to Tom and Grace Smith in Birch Hills, Sask. She moved to High Prairie with her family in 1948 to a homestead in the Gilwood area.

Shirley met Don O'How in 1967 and they bought a homestead in the Snipe Lake area in 1968 before marrying in 1969. She worked at numerous jobs in High Prairie while raising three girls: Benita, Grace and Kathy. After the girls were grown Shirley and Don retired from farming and moved to High Prairie in 1992, then to an acreage just west of town a year and a half later where she resided with Don until her passing.

Shirley was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend who was always willing to lend a helping hand. Shirley was a strong, courageous fighter who never gave up.

Shirley is survived by: her husband Don; daughters Benita, Grace and husband Marcel, Kathy and husband Sheldon; grandchildren Jared, Rochelle and Amanda Dufour, and Tracy and Donald Lizee; sister Elaine, and brothers Henry, Frank and wife Carolann, and Don and wife Debby; sister-in-laws Vina, married to Shirley's late brother, Jim, and Jayne married to her late brother Reg; as well as numerous nieces and nephews and a large extended family.

She was predeceased by: her mother Grace in 1972; her father Tom in 1978; brothers Alfred in 1961, Reg in 1994 and Jim in 1998; sister Nina in 2000; and brother-in-laws Roger Turgeon and Bert Norman.

Shirley touched the lives of many. She will remain an inspiration and deeply missed by all who knew her.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Alberta Cancer Society.