With much sadness, the family of Shirley Irene Davies (nee Austin) announces her passing on May 2, 2010 at Providence St. Peters Hospital in Olympia, Washington, U.S.A.Shirley was born in Detroit, Michigan, the 2nd daughter of Kenneth Gordon Austin and Jean Elizabeth Austin (nee Baker).
At the age of five, her family moved to Dryden in 1930, where she remained until her graduation from Dryden High School in 1942. She then trained as a nurse at the Port Arthur General Hospital , from which she graduated in 1946.
While working at the Simcoe General Hospital she met Brian C. Davies, whom she subsequently married in Toronto, August 2, 1947. She and Brian then embarked on work careers that took them together across the Atlantic and across North America, he as an engineer and she as a nurse. Their places of work included Fort Henry and the Kingston General Hospital in Ontario, Alaska in 1961, Germany with the Canadian Forces in 1965, Victoria, B.C.; Sicily, Texas; Fairbanks, Alaska and finally Anchorage Alaska where they remained for twenty-five years. They retired and left Alaska circa 1985, moved to Ocean Shores and then Lacey, Washington for their remaining years.
Shirley and Brian made lifelong friends everywhere they went. Shirley was a dedicated nurse all her life, both on and off the job! She knit Aran sweaters for family and friends with a passion, read avidly, and loved social functions. She represented the Alaskan State in the American Nurses Association for many years. She and Brian were early members of the Scottish Society of Alaska. Brian and Shirley were invited back to Alaska for their 50th Wedding celebration put on by their friends and the Scottish Society in 1997 in Alaska. This came at a very poignant time in their life together.
Shirley was predeceased by her husband Brian C. Davies, her parents Ken and Jean Austin, sister Marguerite Coombes in 1974 and brother Kenneth in 1935.
She is survived by her sisters Helen Van Patter of Dryden, Ont.; Marion McClelland of California Valley, Ca; Ruth Gongos of Winnipeg, Manitoba; brother Donald A. Austin of Dryden, Ont. and many nieces and nephews, all whom were always delighted with her visits with them. Shirley’s jovial spirit remains a fond memory for us all.
The family expresses particular thanks to our cousin Ruth Hill of Ladysmith, B.C., who spent many holidays and weekends with Shirley and Brian over the past 18 years, and especially since Brian’s death, giving Shirley untold hours of enjoyment of family love and support. We also appreciate the “caregivers” in Lacey, Washington, who went beyond the call of care and indeed befriended Shirley, keeping laughter always at the surface with her.
Shirley is sadly missed by all of her friends and family in Washington State, Alaska, Canada and around the world.
Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
Then I put out to sea,
But such tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.
Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell.
When I embark;
For though from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face.
Alfred Lord Tennyson
December 13, 1889
Shirley was predeceased by her husband Brian C. Davies, her parents Ken and Jean Austin, sister Marguerite Coombes in 1974 and brother Kenneth in 1935.
She is survived by her sisters Helen Van Patter of Dryden, Ont., Marion McClelland of California Valley, Ca, Ruth Gongos of Winnipeg, Manitoba, brother Donald A. Austin of Dryden, Ont. and many nieces and nephews, all whom were always delighted with her visits with them. Shirley’s jovial spirit remains a fond memory for us all.
The family expresses particular thanks to our cousin Ruth Hill of Ladysmith, B.C., who spent many holidays and weekends with Shirley and Brian over the past 18 years, and especially since Brian’s death, giving Shirley untold hours of enjoyment of family love and support. We also appreciate the “caregivers” in Lacey, Washington, who went beyond the call of care and indeed befriended Shirley, keeping laughter always at the surface with her. Shirley is sadly missed by all of her friends and family in Washington State, Alaska, Canada and around the world.
Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
Then I put out to sea,
But such tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.
Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell.
When I embark;
For though from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face.
Alfred Lord Tennyson
December 13, 1889
