On the evening of September 26, 2021, a shade of colour went missing from this world, when Margaret, beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great grandmother and Aunty, died peacefully at St. Paul’s Hospital, due to complications from a long history of cardiac disease. She fought valiantly, until the end, as was true to her courageous spirit.
Margaret was the 3rd daughter of the late Joe and Betty Macvey. Hers was a carefree, blissful childhood, growing up in Dunbar, during a simpler time.
Margaret graduated from Little Flower Academy, then worked for the Bank of Montreal for several years. She married her husband, Jim Shearer, the year of Expo 67. They welcomed their first son, Peter, the following year. In 1972, they welcomed his little brother, Matthew.
Theirs was a challenging adventure, when they moved their young family to the “wilds” of Brookmere, BC, where they lived almost off the grid, for 7 hardworking years. Jim became a well known, respected potter, in the area. Margaret kept a stellar home and garden, while homeschooling her two boys. She truly loved that period of her life.
Over the following years, they moved throughout BC, but finally settled at Mamette Lake, BC, where Peter and Matthew attended Merritt High School.
After raising her much loved sons, Margaret made the bold move to return to the same high school which her sons attended to upgrade her qualifications, which happily led to a fulfilling career as a Cardio Technician. Margaret moved to Richmond, in order to continue her career. Subsequently, she made the long distance commute from Richmond General Hospital to Mamette Lake, for many years. Eventually, Jim joined Margaret, leaving his rural life, to join her in Richmond.
Together they were able to enjoy many years of adventurous travel. They could not, however, totally give up the country life and relished the last 20 years at their cabin in the Nicola Valley. Both Margaret and Jim appreciated the beauty and tranquillity of nature and the simple life.
Margaret was an especially brave, kind and generous person. She supported many causes, with her time and money, including human rights, animal welfare and concern for the environment. Margaret had a life long dance with curiosity and pursuit of knowledge.
Each family member, her cousins and her many friends acknowledge her individuality, her infinite capacity to enjoy life and and to engage with others, in a meaningful way. Our life will be emptier without her joyful presence. She was truly beautiful, physically and spiritually.
Grieving the loss of this remarkable woman are her husband Jim Shearer, their sons Peter and Matthew and their families, Jim’s sister, Margaret Ward and family, her sisters Elizabeth, Kathleen, Mary Jo and her favourite brother Pete and their families, as well as cousins and many friends.
The family will gather together to celebrate Margaret’s life, at a later date.
Finally, we would like to extend our deepest gratitude, for the kind and professional care of Margaret, provided by the following Doctors, over the years: Donald Faulkner, Simone Cowan, John Yeung, Michael Lee, Jian Ye and Naaz Parmar. In addition, we would like to acknowledge, with sincere gratitude, the Doctors and nurses of the CSICU team at St. Paul’s Hospital, who provided such outstanding care in the last days of her life.
Anyone, who wishes to make a donation in honour of Margaret’s life, please consider donating to the causes which she supported: Human Rights, Animal and Environmental Welfare and St. Paul's Hospital Foundation.