SHIRLEY AGNES NEWTON

November 20, 1930 ~ October 4, 2017

Mrs. Shirley Newton, beloved wife of the late Mr. Rex Newton, passed away peacefully at her home on Riverside in Medicine Hat on Wednesday, October 4, 2017, at the age of 86. She is survived by her daughter and son and their respective families: Linda and Lorne Cooper of Medicine Hat, Alberta; Keith and Pam Newton of Redcliff; three grandchildren and their families: Ian Cooper and Jessica Draganiuk of Medicine Hat and their sons, Shirley’s great-grandchildren, Alex Draganiuk, Kade Draganiuk and Finn Cooper, Mathew Newton and Laura Sou of Edmonton, and Joshua Newton of Medicine Hat. She was predeceased by her parents, Mary (Hodgson) and John Haas of Medicine Hat and her husband, Rex Newton of Medicine Hat. Shirley was born in Empress, Alberta and her very early years were on the family farm followed by a move to Medicine Hat where she attended Elm Street school, which was just a block away on the same street she was raised. Her parents ended their relationship very early in their marriage and Shirley followed her mother as she resumed her teaching career at various one-room schools in Western Saskatchewan and Eastern Alberta before eventually ending up at Seven Person’s School. Shirley completed her public schooling at Alexandra High School and then attended the nursing school in the old Medicine Hat Hospital. While she was a nursing student she met her future husband Rex Newton who had taken employment with the CPR after immigrating to Medicine Hat with a friend from England after serving with the British Navy upon the completion of World War II. Shirley was employed at the hospital as a nurse working her way up to the administrative ranks including becoming a nursing instructor in the program which was now operating out of the current hospital location. By the time she retired, she had become the Assistant Executive Director of Patient and Personnel Services of the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital at its current location. Shirley was very proud of her profession and in her retirement, she maintained contact with her retired nursing colleagues and valued their association. Shirley was an avid reader and a follower of current events. She remained ‘sharp as a tack’ and was interested in most world news topics as well as local issues. As per her request, there will be a private family gathering at Hillside Cemetery where Shirley will join with her husband in perpetuity. (Condolences may be expressed by visiting www.cooksouthland.com) If friends so desire, memorial donations may be made to the charity of one’s choice. Honoured to serve the family is

Cook Southland Funeral Chapel, 901 – 13th Street S.W. Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 4V4 Phone 403-527-6455