Book of Memories for Shirley Jean Telfer

Condolence From Sandra Montgomery ( Kethler )

Mon, 25 Nov 2013 12:57:32 EST

I was sorry to hear of the passing of your mom. I have fond memories of her. Lunches at your place were always the best!

Condolence From Lisa Knull (nee Schneider)

Wed, 13 Nov 2013 12:12:35 EST

Pam, you and I went to elementary school together and I haven't seen you since then. We used to sing in the school choir (Grade 4-6)and we spent some lunches together. I was so sad to see that your mother passed away. I wanted to express my condolences to you and your family. I have thought about you often over the years and it makes me sad to know you have had this loss. I hope you will find comfort in the love of your family and friends and in the memories of you mother. With love and sympathy, Lisa

Story shared: Eulogy by Catherine Gryba

Sun, 10 Nov 2013 22:20:31 EST

I remember Shirley's smile and her gentle soul. She had a lovely soul. She was such a kind person. She had a beautiful smile. She loved to travel and had such fun with her friend Tini in Scotland. She travelled to Vancouver, Banff and Seattle with her friends Tini, Betty and Darlene. She loved to read and watch old movies. She loved musicals. I can picture in my mind their beautiful stereo system in Swift Current. Shirley had all the wonderful LP's from the musicals - the Sound of Music, the King and I, and of course, South Pacific. Shirley loved to shop and clothes were a passion. She was always smartly dressed when she went out. She was drawn to the colour blue and this was reflected in her home. A warm colour for a warm, welcoming home. Shirley appreciated a good steak and always looked forward to family reunions so she could get some good pictures. Family was very important to Shirley. In high school, Shirley was popular and a good athlete. She was voted Miss Tech in 1954 - very pretty with a beautiful smile. Shirley was a good friend. She had lifelong friends like Darlene, from Grade 1. My Aunt Betty said she didn't know Shirley as long as the other girls, so I asked my aunt, when did you become friends - well she said, it wasn't until much later - Grade 9 - so not nearly as long as the other girls! Gerry and Shirley had great friends - in Swift Current, they spent many hours and had lots of fun with the Sigurdson's, the McCallums and the Thorson's. And Gerry and Shirley were very good friends of my parents, Gene and Shirley Wenaas. When they were together, they were Shirley Jean (Telfer) and Shirley Mae (Wenaas). So how good were these friends. Well, there was a time at the Horseshoe Inn in Swift Current where the McCalllums, the Sigurdsons, the Thorsons and the Wenaas' met for some kind of a PFRA function. The Horseshoe Inn had a pool. Kathy, Vi, Deanna, Shirley Mae and Shirley Jean formed a synchronized swimming team. The men were inside the rooms, and the girls were practicing in the pool. Shirley May was the coach. They practiced and practiced - can't you just see it, and they got to the point where they could do some moves all 5 at the same time. Finally, the men came out and the performance was to begin - the men didn't even notice they were in the pool, never mind notice that they were moving in the same direction at the same time! Before they got married, Shirley Mae and Shirley Jean took adult swimming lessons after work at the NAT in Moose Jaw. During one lesson, they were learning about lifesaving. One instructor was on the pool deck with the adult swimmers, giving them instruction, and the other instructor was in the pool. The instructor in the pool started to flounder, and pretended that he was in distress in the water and needed a life preserver. Who does the instructor pick, but Shirley Jean. The instructor picked up the life preserver, and said to Shirley, "Hurry, save him, he's drowning." Shirley threw the life preserver right at the poor fellow and clunked him on the head. The Instructor said, "I said to save him not knock him out!!" Shirley was a good athlete. She loved basketball and was a really good player. Shirley Mae and Shirley Jean played for the Boogie Bouncers at Tech in Moose Jaw. The coach would tell them to go through the drills, complicated drills, and she had them down pat. She played centre , always good at jump ball. They played a game in a school gym in Saskatoon, and there was a dance in the gym the night before. There was still dance wax on the floor and everyone was just floundering around - - it didn't bother Shirley, she could dribble, run, pass, anything. She was a good athlete. Shirley could laugh. When Shirley Jean and Shirley Mae were playing Sr. Women's basketball in Moose Jaw, Gene drove them to a game in Saskatoon. They stopped at Davidson for lunch. Both ordered mushroom soup. Waiter takes their order and a few minutes later says no mushroom soup. So they order tomato - everyone has tomato soup. A few minutes later, the waiter comes comes back - no tomato soup. They started to giggle and couldn't stop. When those two started to giggle, they couldn't stop. Gene gets madder and madder, and the madder he gets, the more they can't stop. He finally sent Shirley Mae to the bathroom, and told her to compose herself and then sent Shirley Jean to the bathroom. A couple of years ago, the two Shirley's were telling this story and they started to laugh, and couldn't quit. My dad gets after them all over again - the more he shakes his head, the harder they laughed. Shirley was a good curler - she was on many curling teams, including one with my Aunt Wilma and Shirley Mae - yellow sweaters with black hats and feathers in them. There is a picture floating around - be sure to find it. Before they got married, Shirley Jean and Shirley Mae met Gerry and Gene in Robsart for a dance. The two Shirley packed their suitcases, complete with crinolines and had a wonderful time at the dance. They took the bus home, and while they were standing in the parking lot at the bus depot at Maple Creek, a penny dropped from Shirley's underwear - she always used a penny for her garter belt, because the clasp was broke - and it came loose, and the penny dropped on the ground - right in the middle of where everyone was standing. You can imagine Shirley's embarrassment and the laughter! And the game of Pictionary - Shirley Mae and Shirley Jean vs. Gene and Gerry - loser does the dishes The Shirley's were both secretaries, and knew short hand. It was their turn, and instead of drawing the picture, they used short hand for Pictionary. Not only did they get the answer immediately, it took Gerry and Gene a while to catch on! Shirley made a home for her family. Friends of Pamela, Kory and Scott remember going to Telfer's for cookies after school. When I moved to Saskatoon, I was in University living in residence. The Telfer's ofter had me out to Watrous for Sunday dinner. Shirley had a very welcoming and comfortable home, and she was a good cook - preparing delicious meals. It was my home away from home, and I have always been grateful to Shirley and Gerry and their children for their kindness. Family was very important to Shirley, her brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, were very important to her. Shirley was especially proud of her children and all of their accomplishments. She was a wonderful mother. I want to end with the story of Shirley Avery and the 2-car incident - this story was told by her brother Gilbert: June and I got married in 1959. One day, Shirley, June and I were driving around Moose Jaw in a 1954 Pontiac which I had just purchased. We decided to drive downtown to see if our wedding pictures, which we had taken at Bidwell Studio on Main Street, were framed and ready for pick up. It was a beautiful, sunny, lazy day in July and we drove south on Main Street and parked close to Bidwell Studio. Shirley suggested that, while June and I went into the Studio, she would go shopping in Sally's next door. If she got out first, she would meet us in the car. We went into Bidwell's and picked up the wedding pictures. When we got to our car, we noticed that Shirley had returned and was sitting in another car identical to ours about 3 cars down from us. At that time in Moose Jaw, they had angle parking on Main Street so we could easily see, as the cars were all parked in the same direction and fairly close together. We backed out and slowly drove behind the car she was sitting in, honked the horn and waited. In the meantime, Shirley had kicked off her shoes and was in the process of lighting a cigarette using the car lighter. She turned around to see who was honking, and then she turned around again... and the look on her face! We laughed like crazy. She scrambled to get her shoes on and put the car lighter back, expecting at any moment to see the owner of the car appear. I remember Shirley's smile. The one thing we all remember is Shirley's smile - what a wonderful thing to be remembered for.

Story shared: Our Mother

Sat, 09 Nov 2013 16:58:56 EST

Mom loved her family...that was number one. She talked often of growing up with her parents and siblings with joy and laughter. I am sure that was not an easy time to grow up but she had wonderful memories. It seems to me she was born to be a mother. She took that responsibility so seriously. She worked so hard at it. And to be a mother takes a lot of hard work. It was a great childhood for us...we were so lucky to have her at home caring for us. Our mother was a strong woman, in body and in character. I remember her strength in caring for the three of us so close in age when we were young. She used to say, “Lord, Give me Strength.” You knew this was not a great sign. This was not an easy group but her love for us was strong and she protected us in every way she could. Her physical strength always amazed me whether she was working in the kitchen, yard or helping Dad carry furniture. She was always able to pry us kids apart when we were fighting...that is if she wanted to. We would run to her for protection from the others and her strength could always be relied upon. I don’t mean just when we were little...then too ...but even as adults. Laughter was our reward growing up. Scott remembers hiding in the basement and scaring mom in the dark. He could scare her alright but then she would laugh. You wanted to hear the stories, you wanted to be part of the laughter. This laughter she shared with her siblings and friends as well. Sitting around the table drinking coffee and swapping stories seemed to be an Avery tradition. Imagine mom and Karen standing on chairs in the kitchen to get away from “Mickey” the mouse. Or Arlen coming home to their house in Moose Jaw and seeing a woman with green hair ...he had to go back out and check the house number to see if he had the right place. Yup! It was mom the hair model. Was green fashionable then? Can you picture her face when she called 911 by mistake in Moose Jaw and the police had to come and look though the condo to make sure she was alright. I like to think of the time Carol got her on a scooter at Costco. She did love to drive but I am not sure that was what she had in mind. Laughing until you cried. What a great reward. How lucky we were, to call her mom.

Condolence From Kay Busche

Fri, 08 Nov 2013 13:06:28 EST

Dear Pam, I am so sorry to hear about your mom. Sorry I could not be there with you today. All my love, Kay

Condolence From Leanne Hall and Family

Thu, 07 Nov 2013 22:18:29 EST

Our thoughts are with you all during this difficult time, wish we could be there.

Condolence From Carla Rowan

Wed, 06 Nov 2013 20:21:01 EST

Kory, Pam & Scott, I am very sorry for the loss of your mom. I have great memories of going to your house when we were in school for not only lunch hours but sleep overs! Thinking of all of you. xoxoxo

Memorial Candle lit by Kelly Brown and family

Wed, 06 Nov 2013 00:58:29 EST

Kelly Brown and family

Memorial Candle lit by Wayne & Audrey

Tue, 05 Nov 2013 16:20:42 EST

Wayne & Audrey

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Memorial Candle lit by Leanne Avery Hall and family

Mon, 04 Nov 2013 23:12:26 EST

Leanne Avery Hall and family

Condolence From Lori Roy

Mon, 04 Nov 2013 21:45:22 EST

Sorry to hear about your loss my thoughts and prayers are with your family.

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Mon, 04 Nov 2013 14:49:20 EST