Clifford Alvin Shirley

SHIRLEY-Clifford Alvin Oct. 7, 1912 May 12, 2005. Clifford (Cliff) Shirley of Weyburn, passed away on Thursday, May 12, 2005 at the age of 92 years at Weyburn. Clifford was born on the farm of his parents, Carl and Mary Shirley, located northwest of Carlyle, SK. He attended Swift Creek School and after finishing high school at Carlyle, he attended Normal School in Regina in 1930; then Bachelor of Arts at the University of Brandon in 1938. After six years of teaching, Cliff joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and became a navigator bomb aimer. In a four-engine aircraft, with an all-English crew, he completed 52 bombing missions with the 50 Squadron RAF. Many of the bombing raids over Germany and Italy were successful and Clifford, along with his pilot Harold Southgate, were invested with the DFC and DFM. Clifford returned to Canada and married Marjorie Earl on August 11, 1944. He took over the principalship at Redvers and completed his Bachelor of Education from the U of S in 1953. He taught in a number of schools in southern Saskatchewan including Ogema, Maryfield, Simpson, Davidson, Alameda and Arcola. As well as helping young minds grow, Clifford also farmed in the Arcola-Carlyle area and tackled both occupations by giving the best he had. Clifford and Marjorie enjoyed their first years of retirement at Kenosee Lake and later made their home Weyburn. Clifford was predeceased by his parents, Carl and Mary; brother, Cecil; and grandson, Davin Stratton. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Marjorie; daughters, Marilynn Stratton & Brenda (Rick) Hancock; and three grandchildren, Carla, Graham and Jarid Hancock. He is also survived by his sister, Vera Mowat; sisters-in-law, Billie Shirley, Hazel Glover, Daisy Earl and Marjorie Earl, as well and many nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be held at the Carlyle United Church on Monday, May 16, 2005 at 1:00 p.m. with Rev. John Bullas officiating. Funeral arrangements by the Orsted Funeral Home, Carlyle and the interment at the Glen Morris Cemetery, Carlyle. Donation in Cliff's memory may be made to the Arcola Health Center Palliative Care Fund, Arcola SK. S0C 0G0 Darren Grimes.