It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of SHIRLEY ELIZABETH BEACH (née Kennon) at Chinook Regional Hospital (Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada), on Friday, November 19, 2021 at the age of 90 years.

Shirley will be cherished forever by her beloved husband James (Jim) Beach; her children, Barbara Lynne Cruz; John Beach (Chrys); and Diane Nikkel (Jim); and her grandchildren Raeanne Beach, Dylan Nikkel and Shaelynn Beach.

She was predeceased by her parents, Alice Laura Kennon (nee Hardie) (1888-1978) and William Henry (Harry) Kennon (1874-1952); her sisters Reverend Marjorie Alice Kennon, Frances Mary Tanner, and Nora Bernice Gee; her brothers Samuel Hardie Kennon and Gordon Arthur Kennon; and two siblings who died in infancy.

Shirley was born in Swalwell, Alberta on April 30, 1931 where her parents lived on a farm after moving there from London, Ontario. At age 13, Shirley moved to Calgary, Alberta with her mother. Shirley blossomed in her teen years, becoming a stunning beauty with many friends. Shirley says she first noticed her husband-to-be, Jim, when they were in high school. Jim was playing basketball and Shirley thought he had "great legs." Shirley first caught Jim's eye at a distance in downtown Calgary when she was walking along with friends and decided he would like to meet her. Jim would run into her at dance halls in Calgary and ask her to dance with him. Over the years, dancing was one of their favourite past times. Shirley worked as a stenographer at the Alberta Wheat Pool.

Shirley and Jim married in 1958 and had three children. She loved being an at-home mother and relished trying new recipes, gardening and canning, and entertaining friends and family in her home. Keeping up with her athletic husband, Shirley snow skied, water skied, played golf, and cycled. The first 13 years of their marriage was spent in Calgary with a short interlude in Red Deer, Alberta. Then in 1971, Jim was transferred to Lethbridge, Alberta.

Once in Lethbridge, Shirley became a dedicated member of the Evangelical Free Church and later St. Augustine's Anglican Church. She was a woman who prayed fervently, shared her love of God with others, and helped others locally and globally, in practical ways and in giving to charities. She was a selfless, kind woman with a wonderful sense of humour. She was especially close to her sisters and they laughed often and with great gusto. She was adored by her husband of 63 years of marriage, and was a loving, supportive mother and grandmother. Always in our hearts. Missed every moment. Forever in the Lord.

A public Memorial Service will be held at Cornerstone Funeral Home on Friday, December 17 at 11:00 A.M. Due to Covid restrictions, seating is limited to 50 people. Please RSVP your attendance to Cornerstone at 403-381-7777 or care@cornerstonefh.com

The service will be livestreamed and may be accessed via Shirley's obituary on the Cornerstone website.

If friends and family so desire,  a memorial tribute can be directed to The Primate's World Relief and Development Fund (pwrdf.org)