Shirley Code

It is with a peaceful heart that we share the news of mom’s passing on November 29, 2022, one week after her 95th birthday.

Shirley was born in Yorkton to Douglas and Lydia Baragar on November 22, 1927.    The family settled on a farm near Foam Lake, one mile east of Bertdale School, to raise their family.  Shirley was the second of six children - Noble (Irene),  twins Len (Louise) and Vanji (Mervin Laube),  twins David (Joan) and Doug.

Shirley graduated from Foam Lake Composite School and moved to Saskatoon to achieve her teaching degree, graduating in 1947.  Her first school posting was near Hudson Bay and then at Snipe Lake, near Eston.  While teaching at Snipe Lake, Shirley met Lawrence Code from Eston. They were married in 1949.  In 1950 they moved from Eston to their home north of Foam Lake, in the Edfield area, where they made their life, raising their three children, Derrill, Brian, and Cheryl and foster children, Darlene (Jerry Hoberg) Brothen and Olaf Brothen, followed by Harold Brothen who came later.

While raising her family, Shirley continued her teaching career, first at Osland School, a one room school house, and then Foam Lake Elementary School.   After 10 years of teaching, the Superintendent of Schools wrote … “In the classroom, Mrs, Code has been successful in creating an excellent learning situation.   She conducts her classroom so that there is no waste time but at the same time avoids building pressure.  Mrs. Code is a superior teacher.”   Shirley often spoke with fondness of her students and, in later life, her students would ask how Mrs. Code was doing.  As one of her grandchildren said, “grandma was a teacher, but she was really a ‘Teacher!’.    Not just of knowledge, but of true wisdom and unconditional love.  She brought out the best in everyone that she met.  And her true honourable values will be passed down as we hold her in our hearts forever.”

When her grandchildren were young, she made recipe books that were given to both the boys and the girls.  It was her way of teaching everyone to help with the unnoticed duties in life.  They used the books, Jonny always appreciated her recipe for cinnamon toast.

Besides teaching, her life revolved around gardening, handwork, such as Cabbage Patch dolls and Norwegian Hardanger, snowmobiling, tending pets and plants, and watching her family grow.   Alongside her husband, they founded Edfield Motors, which is now in the hands of the third generation as well as developed a farm and land clearing operation, also now in its third generation.  Shirley and Lawrence’s children and grandchildren all left for a while but all have (or soon will have) moved back to within a 20 K radius of the heart of the family farm.

We were so proud of mom when at 80, despite her age, she learnt to use a computer and later iPad.  As grandson Marc shared, she was “up to snuff” on her technology, to help keep her in touch with her family, via fb and email, and www, especially through Covid19.    She was always optimistic…when asked should we renew the subscription to ‘Prairies North’ for one year or two, two!

We will remember her for the wit and wisdom that was gently and tactfully worked into conversations, and for her strong independence and infinite inner strength in battling leukaemia.     In her day to day life, she led and guided by example, as much as by words.  As her body aged, her mind stayed young.  She was always young at heart and interested in what everyone was doing and wanted to learn every detail.  In her mid 80s, after her husband died, Shirley revisited her passion for gardening and took on the task of revamping her yard.  She made it into a natural park-like haven. Every single part of her yard and nature was important to her.

By knowing her you would know of her love for her family.   Her children: Derrill (Donna) Code; Brian (and the late Demaris) Code; and Cheryl (Nelson) Coupland.  Her grandchildren Scott (Erin) Code; Pam (Glen) Bachinski; Michael (Desiree Bachynski) Code; Darren (Jonina) Code; Michelle (Marc) Andreas; Jonny (Becky) Coupland.     And her great grand children Jaya, Austin, Isaac;  Ryann, twins Katelyn and Nixon;  Gavin, Dallas;  Lexi, Everley, Jaxen; and Nathan.

At a later date, Shirley’s life will be celebrated with a private family memorial at Creekside Sanctuary, located south of Edfield Motors, north of Foam Lake, where her ashes will be interned beside her husband Lawrence.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Foam Lake Jubilee Nursing Home or to a charity that is close to your heart.

A letter from granddaughter Pam

I have so many stories I could tell about Grandma, she was there through all of the most important parts of my life and our kids will have fond memories of her which I am forever grateful for.  She was such a clever and witty lady that I respected so much.  And somehow as her body aged her mind never followed she was so young at heart.  Every visit always seemed to turn into a lesson whether it had been intended or not.  Always very interested in what everyone was doing, and wanted every detail.  She taught me to garden, knit, sew, polish silverware (that was my least favourite task and hers too, I think she was happy once we were old enough to do it ❤️). I can remember working on a knitting  project one evening and I was so upset because my yarn got tangled.  I was in tears and ran over to see Grandma for help.  She very patiently found the problem and then showed me how to fix it. When I told her I was expecting twins she was the most shocked of anyone.  She smiled and told me that she knew eventually twins would show up in the family but she never thought it would be me!  When the kids were little she always had new and exciting things for them to do.  She kept the toys from our childhood that she knew would be a hit with great grandchildren someday.  She was a true class act and we will all miss her so dearly ❤️

Thank you

How do we begin to say thank you for the exceptional care over the highs and lows of health over the last 2 1/2 years when there was always someone to turn to without question or hesitation, no matter what time of day, not only for health care but for the sincere friendships, new and old.   By the care of so many, mom was able to live independently in her own home, up to the few last days of her life.   We cannot list every one of you however we must mention mom’s nurses Tori and Celise.  You touched her deeply Celise, we will always remember the last big hug you gave mom. Thank You Donna B, for your generous gift of 6:30am visits and all the precious visits and kindnesses in between; to say thank you is not enough.      To so many behind the scenes health heroes including the Foam Lake Pharmacy, always one step ahead of what we needed.   Also, thank you for the care during her final days at the Wynyard Hospital and Foam Lake Jubilee Nursing Home.   The challenges were all minimized by the kindness of so many.  ❤️

Finally, a sincere Thank You for the heartfelt expressions of condolence as we move through our grief.  ❤️

God Bless.