Shirley Mae Gilliatt-Butler

Shirley Mae Gilliatt-Butler - of North Alton, Kings County, passed away on January 13, 2017 at the age of 88. Born in Woodside, Kings County, she was the seventh of 10 children of the late Richard and Laura (Illsley) Holt. After attending Canning High School, she moved to Saint John, New Brunswick, where she studied Handcraft Technology and worked at the Sanatorium for TB patients. She married Carroll Gilliatt Jr. (deceased) and built a home in Maitland and both worked at Dupont, mom as a key punch operator. They had one child, Julia. The marriage ended and in 1965, Shirley and Julia came to Canning, to live with Shirley’s mother, until her passing in 1981. She has been employed with GB Murphy Ltd. Jewelry Store as Credit Manager for seven years and later graduated from Mack Business College. After numerous short term employment she established her own business – Shirley’s Alterations Service, which she was operating when she met and married, Glendon Butler of Centreville. The came to live in North Alton in 1985, where they created lovely gardens. Glendon passed away in 1999 and Shirley continued on living in North Alton until she developed Alzheimer’s Dementia and needed more care, moving to the Evergreen Home for Special Care, where she received love and care for her remaining years. She was a member of Trinity United Church, Canning (where she sang in the choir and was active with the UCW), the New Minas United Church (where she was also active with the UCW) and then became a member of the World Wide Church of God (now called Grace Communion International). She also attended North Alton Baptist Church as well as Bible Studies and Christian Women’s Group. She was a member of the Canning Women’s Institute and won contests with her sewing projects. She also helped establish the Glooscap Summer Festival and the Glooscap Majorettes. Shirley often used her skills to help decorate the WI floats. She is survived by her daughter, Julia and her younger brother, Darrell; many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her siblings, Eric Holt, Jean Fisher, Levi Holt, Isabelle Murphy, Malcolm Holt, Stanley Holt, Marion Lyons and Valerie MacGowan. Upon her marriage to Glendon, she became "Mom" to three girls, Marlene Sanford, Brenda Parker and Cathy Jones; six grandchildren, Scott Sanford, Crystal Brydon, Logan Parker, Sasha, Caitlin and Nicholas Jones; numerous great grandchildren. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral service and reception at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, January 19, 2017 all in the White Family Funeral Home, Kentville. Burial will take place in Oakridge Memorial Gardens, Lower Sackville. Family flowers only by family request. The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to everyone who visited and contributed to her care, including the staff of Mountain Lea Lodge, Evergreen Home for Special Care, the Valley Regional Hospital, Dr. Jim Seaman and the volunteers with Continuing Care. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia, Valley Regional Hospital, Evergreen Home for Special Care or a charity of your choice. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Kentville, Nova Scotia.