Shirley Emma (Walker) Harris, 88, of Wolfville, formerly of Halifax, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on Thursday, July 25, 2024. Born May 30, 1936, and raised in Jollimore, Halifax County, the daughter of Malcolm E. and Aleitha Walker, a little girl of five years old travelled in a rowboat ferry ride everyday across the Northwest Arm to school and was a graduate of Halifax Ladies College in 1953. Fashionably stepping out in downtown Halifax Shirley began her business career at Household Finance and worked in one of many Walker family theatres, notably The Bay Road Drive-In. Shirley married Victor Harris, also of Jollimore, and together they raised three children in Wolfville. Life revolved around her love of growing beautiful flowers and bountiful vegetable gardens, cooking, baking and feeding everyone beyond their limits, and multiple family business ventures including Harris Bakeries, Country Manor Farm & Country Vacations, Wholesale Produce Sales, The Colonial Inn Restaurant, transport trucks and many others. Life events took on a new role after the farm and Shirley owned and managed a large portfolio of apartment and Rooming House rentals in Halifax & Dartmouth up until the age of 83! Her love of her family is the glue that has held us together with tales of our forefathers and always hosting her growing family at our family gatherings several times each year.  We are blessed and hope she feels she has won the lottery of life with us.  Oh, she loved her lotto scratch tickets, finding trinkets at Yard Sales and the finer things in life. Mom was patriotic to her Canada and our Queen. She was our go-to for political discussions and current events. Shirley was a hard worker, stoic, strong and healthy through a winding path of life especially during the many years devoted to her mother’s care in the 1990’s. Settling back in Wolfville we were so happy to have mom home while she enjoyed a full independent life sporting a license plate saying "Let Me Tell You About My Grandchildren", all 8 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren! Living next door to her sister and brother-in-law brought great joy and built a wonderful friendship and social life, especially musical events, day trips and cottage time at the beach.

Loving life in the Annapolis Valley, all but one of us has stayed close to home. Our mother is survived by Victoria/Vicki and her three children, Alexander (Melissa), Harrison and Marlianda Czapalay; Stephen (Kim) and their three children, Dr. Jennifer Harris (Jonatas Melo) Baltimore, MD., Julian and Jovi Melo; Katrina (Jeff) Cleveland, Levi and Eleanor Cleveland, Sophia and Hayden Cleveland; Richard/Ricky (Patricia), Logan and Lucas; Lance (Timbol) and their two children, Nicholas (Courtney), Ava, Savannah and Nova; Olivia (Jagar) Millett and Hunter Millett. Shirley is also survived by sister, Hazel Walker (Graham Howes), Wolfville; brother, David Walker, Conception Bay South, NL; sister-in-law, Gloria Walker, Halifax; eight nieces and nephews; and grateful to Cameron Hustins for his unwavering dedication. Shirley is predeceased by brother M. Albert Walker and friend John Maunder.

Visitation will be held at White Family Funeral Home, 100 Bridge Street, Kentville on Sunday, July 28 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Shirley’s Funeral will be held at West End Baptist Church, 1986 Preston Street, Halifax on Monday, July 29 at 1:00 p.m. Reception to follow. Interment will take place in Fairview Lawn Cemetery, 3720 Windsor Street, Halifax. Memorial donations to Valley Hospice Foundation would be greatly appreciated for their wonderful care. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Kentville.