Shirley Legary

Obituary

Shirley A. Legary (nee Hoddinott), age 98 of Winnipeg, MB. passed away peacefully on April 28, 2026, at the Meadowood Manor, Winnipeg, MB.

She is survived by her two daughters, one son, five grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was predeceased by her husband, (Eldon H. Legary), her parents (Percy & Queenie Hoddinott), and her brother (Arthur J. Hoddinott).

Shirley was born on Sept. 24, 1927. She grew up on the family farm in Birds Hill, Manitoba. Shirley loved telling tales from her childhood in Birds Hill, including taking care of the chickens, helping to serve water and lunches to hired hands on the farm, horse rides with her older brother, horse and cart rides to pick up her cousins, and Birds Hill School. The tragic loss of her brother in WWII was a sad but vivid memory.

Shirley completed High School at Rupert’s Land Girls’ School and earned her teaching certificate at the central Normal School in Winnipeg. Her first teaching position was Grade 2 at Polson School.

Shirley married Eldon Legary of Pilot Mound, Mb. on July 9, 1949. For a few years in the late 1950s, she taught Kindergarten in the basement of her family home on Byng Place. In the early to late 1970s, Shirley was a Resource Teacher for Ft. Garry School Division at Agassiz Drive, then General Byng School. Also, she helped her husband run a successful business out of the home on Thatcher Drive for many years. Around 2018, Shirley and Eldon moved to the Seine River Retirement Residence in St. Vital. Sadly, Eldon passed away in 2019. Shirley continued to live at “the Seine”, where she enjoyed the many musical guests that provided entertainment. On December 28, 2025, Shirley moved to the Meadowood Manor, where she enjoyed Morning Song, dance moves with the staff, and smiling as she walked around on the second floor.

Shirley was a member of the Women’s Auxiliary for St. John the Baptist Church in Ft. Garry and, later, St. Paul’s Anglican Ft. Garry, where she was also a member of the choir. She enjoyed singing, knitting, family gatherings, time at the lake (Tall Timbers, Bird River) with family and friends. Shirley will be remembered by all for her kindness, generosity, and her warm smile.

Her Celebration of Life will be held at a later date, with private ash internment afterwards.

Special thanks to the staff at the Meadowood Manor for their care and kindness.