Obituary of Shirley Olive Robertson

Shirley Olive Robertson (Naugle), 87, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, on Monday, December 12, 2016 in the home in which she’d been born and lived her entire life, on the West Lawrencetown Road, Lawrencetown, NS. A life-long equestrian, Shirley became a horse show Steward, ensuring fair play, good sportsmanship and that the welfare of the horses was paramount. She officiated at the majority of horse shows across the Maritime Provinces. In the 1980s, she was invited to join the Official Steward team at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. From there, Shirley went on to officiate at the highest levels of the sport, including the 1989 World Dressage Championships and the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996. She was a great clinician and mentor to many aspiring officials and was named the Nova Scotia Equestrian Federation’s Official of the Year in 2000. Shirley also took great pride in hosting the Westphal Horse show for many years at the farm she and Roddie shared for so long in West Lawrencetown. Shirley is survived by her devoted husband and best friend of 69 years, Roderick (Roddie) George Robertson; daughter Marie (Terry) Casavechia and their sons Dean (Heather), Dartmouth and Sean, Chicago; daughter Nancy (Peter) Spurway, West Lawrencetown, granddaughter Lindsay Smith (Brent) and great granddaughter Georgia Smith, West Lawrencetown, step grandsons Jamie Spurway, Toronto, and Matthew Spurway, Dartmouth; nephew Francis MacDonald (Linda) of West Lawrencetown; sister-in-law Leyola McDonald (Robertson); and several nieces and nephews. Shirley was the daughter of Melvin and Dora Naugle (Lloy). She was predeceased by her sister Ruth Bonang. Shirley is deeply loved and her memory will be held forever in our hearts. A Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, Dec. 19 at 1pm at Saint John XXIII Roman Catholic Church, 35 Colby Drive, Dartmouth, N.S., Father Irek Bem officiating. Interment at a later date, in Lawrencetown Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Nova Scotia SPCA, or to the charity of your choice. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to T.J. Tracey Cremation and Burial Specialists, Bedford (902) 835-4212.