Shirley Tucker

Shirley Tucker died peacefully on July 3 at the age of 107. Born Shirley Aileen Walker in Yorkton, Saskatchewan on May 9, 1917, she grew up in Victoria; her father was the grandson of English settlers who arrived in Fort Victoria in 1853.

A graduate of Victoria High School, Shirley completed the two-year program at Victoria College. Shirley’s education then took her to the United States: she earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Washington and a master’s from Columbia University Teacher’s College in New York. A specialist in textiles, she taught home economics, serving as a faculty member at Oregon State University, UCLA and Ventura College, where she was the longtime department chairperson.

Shirley returned to Victoria in 1981. She moved back into the family home that she first occupied in 1932 and remained there for life. Shirley was active in local organizations, including the Victoria College alumni association, where she served as president in the mid-1980s. As a docent at Craigdarroch Castle, she engaged visitors from around the world with stories and photos of student life at the castle in the 1930s when Victoria College was based there. Other local affiliations include First Metropolitan United Church, The UVic alumni association, Goward House and the Oak Bay Lawn Bowling Club.

Throughout her long-life Shirley sustained many friendships, too numerous to be listed individually but each one of great importance to Shirley and to her family. Andrea Ochave, Emily Rivera, Alma Ochave and a small team of caregivers provided Shirley with devoted assistance and companionship in her home during recent years; they became members of her extended family. Shirley’s family is also grateful to those who provided the fine care she received in her last days at the Royal Jubilee Hospital palliative care unit and the Victoria Hospice.

Shirley was predeceased by her brother Bill and sister-in-law Catherine Walker as well as her beloved parents Evalyn and Walter Mitchell Walker. She is survived by a son, Brian Tucker of Los Angeles, nieces and nephews Susan Walker of Victoria; Anne Walker and Wendell Shaw of Corkums Island, Nova Scotia; Walter Walker of Salem, Massachusetts; Robert Walker of Billings, Montana and subsequent generations of nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held in Victoria at Broad View United Church, 3703 St. Aidan’s Street, on Saturday, July 13, 2024 at 1:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in Shirley’s honour can be made to the Victoria Hospice or another of the organizations mentioned above.  Condolences may be offered to the family below.

McCalll Gardens

www.mccallgardens.com