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Shirlee Marian Drummond-Hay

January 28, 2025

K5O3V4V4-20250203131528

May 14, 1929 - January 28, 2025

In loving memory ~

"And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance." (Kahlil Gibran)

The family of Shirlee Drummond-Hay would like to announce her passing on January 28, 2025, at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, peacefully and with family by her side, at the age of 95.

Shirlee was born in the first year of the Great Depression in Sioux City, Iowa, the daughter of Doris and Harry Gibbons. She was predeceased by her brother Bobby in childhood and grew up as an only child. She always wished to have a large family and was blessed to have four daughters, six stepchildren, a large extended family, and countless friends, colleagues, and neighbours to keep her company. She was kind and generous with all of them, and many of her younger friends adopted her as "Mom." She liked to try new arts and crafts projects and had a lifelong interest in researching her family genealogy. But more than anything, she was fun, and always up for a good party, with lots of music, singing, and dancing. The more the merrier! She was prepared to bring out the food and drink at any time, and happy to step up and do a tap dance or jitterbug, or play the organ, drums, tambourine, or, most especially, her California fiddle.

She married, first, Earl Montgomery, Jr., and moved with him to California in the 1950s. There she later married George Thompson (Drum) Drummond-Hay, and moved with him to Nanaimo, BC, Canada, where she has lived since 1967. She and Drum were, for many years, proprietors of the Toys N' Things and Creative Arts retail stores in Nanaimo. They were also avid participants in the early days of bathtub racing in Nanaimo, winning two races in 1974 and 1975 with their home-built racing bathtub.

Shirlee was predeceased by both husbands, her grandson Jason Peskanovich of Cedar, BC, son-in-law Robert Harbaugh of Texas, and stepson Charles Drummond-Hay of California.

She is survived by children Pamela Montgomery (John Lepage) of Nanaimo, Celia Montgomery (Paul Smith) and Michela Montgomery (Paul Peskanovich) of Cedar, BC, and Deborah Harbaugh of Texas; stepchildren Sandra Stephens (Rick) of Lantzville, BC, Eric Drummond-Hay (Mary) of Seattle, and Leslie Drummond-Hay (Frank Sharp) and John Dillon (Yelena Wells) of California; grandchildren Tyler Harder and Heather Montgomery of Vancouver, and Jeff Peskanovich (Jamie Manuel) of Cedar, BC; and great grandchildren Holly Godard and Kai and Lia Harder.

She lived a long and full life and we learned from her example never to sit one out, but to dance.

Funeral to be held Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at Sands Funeral Chapel, 1 Newcastle Avenue, Nanaimo, BC, V9S 4H6. Viewing 10:00 am, service 11:00 am, reception 12:00 pm.

Service Details

Celebration of Life
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
10:00 AM
See obituary for details


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