Mrs. Shirley Edra Evans

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved mom, Shirley Evans (Best), on September 8, 2025, at the Oilfields General Hospital in Diamond Valley, Alberta—just a few days shy of her 96th birthday. Shirley was born on September 12, 1929, in Gilbert Plains, Manitoba, to Lorna and Gilbert (“Buzz”) Best. After graduating high school, she completed a secretarial certificate in Dauphin, Manitoba, and worked until she was old enough to enroll in nursing school at the age of 19. She graduated from the Metropolitan School of Nursing in Kitchener, Ontario, in 1951. Shirley began her nursing career in Ontario and Manitoba before accepting a position at the Crippled Children’s Hospital (now the Alberta Children’s Hospital) in Calgary. It was there she discovered her true passion as a scrub nurse in the operating room, a role she later continued at the Calgary General Hospital. After moving to Calgary her love of horseback riding led her to board her horse, Ginger, in the Red Deer Lake area. It was through friends in that community that she was invited to a local dance—where she met the love of her life, Jack Evans. They married in November 1956 and started their life together on a farm just north of the Evans family homestead, where Mom became a farmer’s wife. Driving grain trucks, checking cattle and growing the most amazing garden. This is where their four children: Lorna, Margaret, John (Theresa), and Joan were born. In 1967, the family moved back to the Evans family farm, where they spent many more joyful years surrounded by close friends and neighbors in the Red Deer Lake and DeWinton areas. After Jack’s passing in 2000 and the eventual sale of the farm, Shirley moved to Black Diamond in 2009. There, she found a new and vibrant community of friends. We often joked that she had a more active social life than the rest of us! Shirley cherished her grandchildren: Allison, Amy, Daniel (Marnei), Chelsea, Ethan, Sienna, Ben, Emily, Owen, Cora-Lynn, and Keaton. She also had the joy of welcoming eight great-grandchildren: Aden, Esperanza, Damien, Zoe, Kaia, Joshua, Aubrey, and Oliver—each visit from them brought her great happiness. Shirley is survived by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, as well as her loving brother, Warren Best, and numerous nieces and nephews. Our family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff at Oilfields General Hospital and the Diamond Valley Home Care Team for their exceptional care and compassion. We are truly grateful to each and every one of you. In keeping with Shirley’s wishes, there will be no formal service. What she loved most was sitting down with friends and family for a cup of coffee and conversation. To honour her memory, we invite all who knew her to join us. Come and share a cup of coffee or tea, enjoy a sweet treat, and celebrate Shirley’s life through stories, laughter, and togetherness—just as she would have wanted. A Final Coffee with Shirley will be held at the Griffith Center, 122 Government Rd S, Diamond Valley, AB on Tuesday, September 16th from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM. Caring for the family is Lyle Reeves Funerals of High River (Craig Snodgrass) 403.652.4242.

Tributes

Mrs. Shirley Edra Evans

September 12, 1929 - September 8, 2025