Margaret "Molly" Shepherd

To Margaret "Molly" Shepherd, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, she was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around her, she seemed to be eternally happy, and she willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life she touched. For Molly, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, she could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Molly really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

      Molly was born on June 22, 1919 in Victoria, BC. Her parents were Stephen and Marie Wallis. Molly was raised in Victoria, BC. Even as a child, Molly had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around her. She was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. She couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. She was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, she succeeded in entertaining her entire family.

      Always a good playmate, Molly was easygoing and fun loving. She managed to lighten the mood wherever she was, even during family squabbles. Molly was raised with six younger brothers.

      Molly's playful good humor carried over into her childhood. She was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed her to be constantly on the go. As a result, Molly experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited her very well. She took part in swimming.

      Ask anyone who knew her from school and they would tell you that Molly was a class “cut-up.” She didn’t do it to be unkind or to garner all the attention. Rather, Molly simply enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of her friends and acquaintances having a good time. It could be said that for Molly, grades may not have been the most important thing to her, but she really did enjoy her school experience. She enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory". Molly held numerous Canadian swimming records and was an Olympic hopeful for the 1936 Summer Olympics in Germany.

      Molly never actually encountered a stranger in her dealings with people. She was drawn to individuals and crowds, using her gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate her audience. This quality allowed Molly to continually develop new relationships, ever widening her circle of friends. Molly delighted in her role among all her acquaintances, because she viewed them all as potential spectators for her performance. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, Molly was always right at home putting on a show among her friends. Molly utilized her interest in others as a great way to connect with them. Later in life, she became friends with with her roommate, Vivian, at the Cumberland Lodge and Jim.

      Molly enjoyed her leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Molly liked creating and making things. Her favorite pursuits were swimming and painting. Molly was content to enjoy her hobbies alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.

      Molly felt excited and challenged by sports. Even if she wasn’t the best, Molly loved to participate and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the pleasure of being around other people. Molly relished the opportunities where she could make an impact, and she would often push herself to play above her abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, Molly never seemed to get caught off guard, even when confronted with unexpected conflict. In high school, Molly was a swimmer and this continued through out her adult life.

      Living life in the fast lane suited Molly just fine. It is no surprise that she loved to travel and to visit new and different places. She was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. She was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included travelling to Maui, Africa, and various trips to USA.

      Molly believed that you had to experience life, and her life in retirement was no different. Her new life involved relocating to Victoria and then back to Courtenay, and then to Cumberland. With her boundless energy and a desire to get the most out of life, Molly remained busy with people and projects. Even in retirement, Molly continued to stay in touch with her old friends and, since she'd never met a stranger, she made plenty of new acquaintances as well.

      Molly passed away on November 6, 2017 at Cumberland Lodge in Cumberland, BC from a stroke. She is survived by daughter Arlene Peterson, many grandchildren and brother Ray Wallis. Services were held at Piercy's-Mt. Washington Funeral Home. Molly was laid to rest in St. Stephen's Anglican Church Cemetery in Victoria, BC.

      Molly brought joy to all of those around her. She never had a mean bone in her body. She loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. She loved to share her energy, wit, and her zest for all of her activities with her friends and family. Molly Shepherd lived life to its fullest and made everyone around her happier just for knowing her. She will be remembered with a smile.

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It is with deep sadness that the family of Molly Shepherd announces her passing on Monday, November 6, 2017 at the age of 98 years. Molly was born in Victoria, the oldest of 7 children to Stephen and Marie Wallis. Molly loved the outdoors and was an amazing swimmer. In fact, she was an Olympic hopeful for the 1936 Summer Olympics in Germany. Molly was predeceased by her daughters Maureen Kinnersly and Judy Anne Lidgate. Molly is lovingly remembered by Maureen's children, her daughter Arlene Peterson and her family; and Judy’s children Shelby Green and Nikki Apps; brother Ray Wallis as well as numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Family would like to thank the Cumberland Lodge staff for the wonderful care Molly received over the past 15 years. A Celebration of Molly’s Life will be held on Saturday, November 18, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. at Piercy’s-Mt. Washington Funeral Home (440 England Ave in Courtenay, BC). Memorial donations may be made to the Cumberland Lodge (2696 Windermere Ave. Cumberland, BC V0R 1S0).