Obituary of Shirley Verena Erickson

Shirley Erickson (nee Eckford) passed away peacefully at Waters Edge Care Community on February 4, 2022, after a lengthy decline from ‘early onset’ Alzheimers Disease. Shirley was born and raised in Powassan and had just turned the age of 76. She was the daughter of her predeceased parents Verena (nee Bartraw) and Hector Eckford.

Shirley was a Principal and teacher for the East Parry Sound Board of Education from 1968 until retiring in 1998. She began her career at Chisholm Central Public School and continued at Powassan Junior and Maple Ridge in Powassan (1975 to 1987) and finishing her career at M. T. Davidson in Callander. During her career she was Principal of Chisholm Central, the president of the EPSWTA for two years, received recognition for her excellence in teaching by her peers and the media, and was granted the Shell Fellowship Teachers Award.

In her retirement Shirley travelled extensively with her good friends Eileen, Kathy, Brenda and other members of the ‘Living Fit Group’, enjoyed canoeing and cottaging in the summer with Tom, taking pride in teaching skiing to young students as a certified ski instructor at Laurentian Ski Hill, delighted in hiking, cross country skiing, gardening, her passion for photography and ‘whow’ could she dance.

Shirley will be sadly missed by her common-law partner Tom Bennett (Allison and Michael), her two sons Shawn (Sue Anne) and Lonny Erickson, her grandchildren Gabriel and Alexandre & Marie Josee, her sisters Donna and Glenna (Joe), her nieces and her many relatives from the Powassan area, all her fellow teachers and associates, her numerous dear friends and the loving staff of Waters Edge. In fact, anyone who has met her will miss her upbeat, positive attitude and enthusiasm for life.

The family would like to thank all the relatives and friends that made visitations during her stay at Waters Edge. Tom would wish to extend a special thanks to Shirley’s great friends Judy Lake and Margie RH and all the phenomenal staff at Waters Edge Care Community (Leisureworld) for their years of patience, care, and for maintaining Shirley’s safety and comfort. I am sure they will miss her spontaneous laughter coming from her room.

A celebration of Shirley’s life will be held at the MARTYN FUNERAL HOME on Thursday, February 10, 2022, from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Due to COVID restrictions, capacity for the visitation is limited. Please confirm your attendance by calling Martyn Funeral Home at 705-472-8810 to reserve a spot. Masks are required in the funeral home, and we ask that you please respect social distancing. 

If desired, donations to the Alzheimer Society would be gratefully acknowledged as expressions of sympathy.