Lois Jean (Deines) Shelley

Lois passed away at age 89 surrounded by family after a long illness.  She was predeceased by her parents, Jacob and Rena Deines: brothers Clarence, Arnold, Arthur, Alvin, Lloyd; sisters Dorothy and Wilma; many dear in-laws, nieces and nephews; husband Maurice Gordon McGraw, and husband Ken R. Shelley.  Lois is survived by her son David McGraw (Sharon), and daughter Karen Harasen (Greg), 6 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, and sisters Eleanor, Norma, and Verna.

Lois was born in Calgary where she spent most of her life.  She worked in many jobs including the laundry at the General Hospital, CD Morris Nursery, Boy Scouts of Canada, the hardware department at Sears, U-Frame-It, Famous Framers, and a stint as a house painter in the 1970’s when women were seldom seen in such a job.  She completed her working career as a bookkeeper for Quality Insurance Claims in Edmonton and Calgary.  In common with all her pursuits she invariably mastered the task, often rose to a management role, and made lifelong friends.

Her family will warmly remember her as ‘one of a kind’:  a woman who at various points in her life played the banjo, explored Europe, enjoyed scuba diving, loved to golf, was an enthusiastic Stampeders, Flames and Blue Jays fan.

Lois thoroughly enjoyed her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren in her retirement years.   She cultivated a relationship with all of them and remembered birthdays.  Family gatherings were not to be missed!

Flowers gratefully declined but a memorial donation to the charity of your choice would be appreciated by the family.  Cremation has taken place.  A memorial service will be held in Calgary in the spring.