Newspaper Article 2015 – Lover of travel enjoyed rich and full life

OBITUARY

Shirley McKeever, QSM, born at Invercargill, February 2, 1923, died at Napier, August 16, 2015.

Shirley McKeever was the fourth child of five to Edward (Ed) and Norah Elizabeth (Elsie) McKeever. She attended Southland Girls’ High School with good academic results and then, after gaining office skills at a private commercial college, joined the Union Bank in Invercargill in 1940. As men went off to fight overseas, opportunities arose that were not previously available to young women and, in this way, she became one of the first women employed in the banking industry.

In 1951, the Union Bank merged with the Bank of Australasia to form the ANZ.

At that time, Shirley’s parents moved to Napier for her father’s health and Shirley decided to follow them.

Initially, she managed to obtain a transfer to the Hastings branch of ANZ and later moved to the Napier branch where she remained for 30 years, 20 of those managing the travel office, until her retirement in 1982.

Shirley loved Napier’s benign climate and managed large and productive gardens in the family properties, first in Hyderabad Rd, later in Cameron Rd and, in her retirement, in Hukarere Rd.

Her nephews and nieces spent many happy school holidays with their grandparents and aunt and have great memories of family gatherings and of tucking into her garden produce, especially Omega plums and apricots.

The travel bug bit Shirley early in life and never left her. In 1952, she took 12 months’ unpaid leave and, with an old school friend, travelled to the UK where they borrowed bicycles and then cycled around Europe, staying at youth hostels.

With her parents, she travelled to Japan and Fiji, and after her father’s death went with her mother to Europe for seven months.

As Shirley by now had a sister living in the US, and more travel opportunities presented themselves.

She made many trips there over the years, first with her mother and, after her mother’s death, on her own, forging strong bonds with her nieces and nephew, and helping to nurse her sister through her final illness.

Shirley devoted much of her time to serving the community in which she lived.

She was an active member of her parish community at St John’s Cathedral, holding positions on the centennial committee, the finance committee, the Association of Anglican Women and the vestry, and acting as dean’s warden, parish recorder, and co-ordinating volunteers to get hospital patients to and from weekly church services at the hospital.

Shirley was also involved in Zonta and the New Zealand Red Cross. She convened the meals on wheels service for four years, spent a term as branch vice-president and then two terms as branch president. Shirley also was a member of several cultural and horticultural groups, was secretary of the ANZ Retired Officers Group (East Coast) and president of the Hawkes Bay Travel Club. In 1994, she received a Civic Award for her outstanding contribution to the community, followed by a QSM in 1998. She was made an honorary life member of the New Zealand Red Cross in 2008.

Although she remained single and had no children of her own, Shirley was devoted to her 12 nieces and nephews and their children and grandchildren.

Weddings were another excuse to travel, after all. Christmas would not have been the same without Shirley. She always put a great deal of thought into presents for everyone and her arrival in Wellington at midday on Christmas Day after attending the early service at the cathedral was awaited with anticipation. As Shirley was an ardent royalist, the Queen’s message was compulsory listening.

Shirley’s fall and subsequent hospitalisation in 2008 put an end to her active community involvement. Paradoxically however, it provided an opportunity to cement family relationships. Several gatherings of cousins took place to mark birthdays or cousins visiting New Zealand. Towards the end of her life, Shirley may not have been quite able to give names to her family visitors, but she always recognised that they were dear to her and she to them.

“Shirley loved Napier’s benign climate and managed large and productive gardens in the family properties.”

Shirley’s long life was rich, full and complete. It was a life well lived.

Photo caption – SERVICE: Shirley McKeever was an active member of her parish community at St John’s Cathedral.   PHOTO/SUPPLIED