Obituary for Shirley Edna McKay (Coupar)
Shirley Edna McKay, age 99, passed away peacefully in Ottawa on October 5, 2020. She was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on July 3, 1921 and was the daughter of James and Sophia Coupar who emigrated from Scotland several years earlier.
Shirley married the late Lt. Col. Robert (Rob) Neil McKay in 1948 and together they enjoyed the army life of travelling for over 30 years. They lived in Shilo and Winnipeg, Manitoba; Camberley and Guildford, England; Ottawa and Petawawa, Ontario and St. Lambert, Quebec. Their nomadic lifestyle instilled a love of travel in their two sons, Robert James (Nancy) of Toronto and John Ian Neil of Ottawa.
In addition to her sons, Shirley is survived by three grandchildren who also love to travel; Neil Alexander (Fanny) of Saint-Malo, France, Andrew Robert of Toronto and Heather Elizabeth of Jakarta, Indonesia. She is also survived by a great-granddaughter, Lucy Marie Amadea, who Shirley loved watching develop virtually and by many nieces, nephews their children and grandchildren in Western Canada. Shirley was predeceased by her loving husband, Rob and by her three sisters; Sheila White, Margaret MacDonald and Stella Stewart.
John (Bossy) and Robert would like to thank Jill and the other health care workers of St. Patrick’s Home of Ottawa for the loving care they gave Shirley for ten years and Pegge, a lifelong family friend, who provided companionship and support to Rob and Shirley for many years.
Since Shirley outlived virtually all of her generation of family and friends and in light of COVID restrictions, there will be no service in Ottawa. She will be interred in the Coupar family plot in Winnipeg at a later date. In lieu of flowers, a donation to St. Patrick’s Home of Ottawa would be appreciated.
Shirley married the late Lt. Col. Robert (Rob) Neil McKay in 1948 and together they enjoyed the army life of travelling for over 30 years. They lived in Shilo and Winnipeg, Manitoba; Camberley and Guildford, England; Ottawa and Petawawa, Ontario and St. Lambert, Quebec. Their nomadic lifestyle instilled a love of travel in their two sons, Robert James (Nancy) of Toronto and John Ian Neil of Ottawa.
In addition to her sons, Shirley is survived by three grandchildren who also love to travel; Neil Alexander (Fanny) of Saint-Malo, France, Andrew Robert of Toronto and Heather Elizabeth of Jakarta, Indonesia. She is also survived by a great-granddaughter, Lucy Marie Amadea, who Shirley loved watching develop virtually and by many nieces, nephews their children and grandchildren in Western Canada. Shirley was predeceased by her loving husband, Rob and by her three sisters; Sheila White, Margaret MacDonald and Stella Stewart.
John (Bossy) and Robert would like to thank Jill and the other health care workers of St. Patrick’s Home of Ottawa for the loving care they gave Shirley for ten years and Pegge, a lifelong family friend, who provided companionship and support to Rob and Shirley for many years.
Since Shirley outlived virtually all of her generation of family and friends and in light of COVID restrictions, there will be no service in Ottawa. She will be interred in the Coupar family plot in Winnipeg at a later date. In lieu of flowers, a donation to St. Patrick’s Home of Ottawa would be appreciated.