It is with profound sadness that the family of Sheila Margaret Skidmore announce the passing of their dear mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Sheila passed away early October 1, 2024, at Evergreen Home for Special Care, Kentville, at the age of 99, with her daughters at her side.

Shelia, previously of Kingston, Nova Scotia, was born in Cramlington, England, on June 22, 1925, to Janet (Fletcher) and Ewen Davidson. She was the youngest of five children and the last surviving member of her family.

When she was a young girl, Sheila wanted to be a nurse.  Then one day, she saw her father's wound that he had received in the First World War and decided that was not the career for her. Sadly, the wound never healed and Ewen passed away in 1935.

Sheila enjoyed telling her children and grandchildren about visiting an aunt's farm in northern England with her sister Jean during the summer months and enjoying watching the border collies herding farm animals.

Her best story was when she met her beloved Allan at a movie theatre in the 1940s. He was a dashing Canadian soldier who was in training in northern England during the Second World War. Sheila did not heed her mother's warning to stay away from the Canadians in uniform!

Allan and Sheila were married in Cramlington on April 29, 1944. Their daughter Angela was born in England in May 1945.

Following the end of the war, Allan was sent back to Canada and it was 18 more months before the family was reunited. Sheila and Angela journeyed across the Atlantic and came to Canada through Pier 21 in Halifax.

Allan had a civilian job at CFB Cornwallis and the family settled in Smiths Cove and then Deep Brook, where they welcomed daughter Janette and son David.

Allan's work as a civilian personnel officer with the federal government took them to Greenwood, and to Halifax for a short time, then back to the Annapolis Valley, where they lived the rest of their lives.

Sheila was ahead of her time and was a working woman in the 1960s and 70s. She worked at and eventually managed the ladies wear store, Hermies, at the Greenwood plaza.

Her labour of love was her garden. She started many of her flowers by seed in a small greenhouse attached to their garage. Her roses and rhododendrons were a sight to behold! It wasn't unusual to see people out for a drive, slowly passing by their property in Kingston.

Motherhood was her most important role. She loved her children fiercely and they recall happy childhoods, even when they were told to weed the garden!

She was also an awesome Nanny who gave out lots of hugs. Special memories include many Sunday dinners of roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, and Christmases with lots of family and laughter.

Sheila is survived by daughter Angela and son-in-law Ray Soucie of Dartmouth; daughter Janette Boates-Hines and son-in-law Bill Hines of Nictaux; son David, Toronto; sister-in-law Audrey Ryan of Amherst; granddaughters Christine Soucie Madill of Lewis Lake, Denise Simpson (Stephen) of Dartmouth, Tracey Ecker (James) of Midland, Michigan; grandsons Darren Boates (Lori) of Middleton, Max Skidmore of Toronto and his mother Tatiana Usachev; great-grandsons Matthew Madill (Alanna MacDonald) of Halifax, Daniel Boates of Middleton; great-granddaughters Alyssa Kelly (Tanner) of Halifax, Natasha Simpson of Dartmouth, Bella Boates (Alex) of Fredericton; nieces Janice Jones and Susan Hill and nephew Graham Davidson, all of England.

Sheila was predeceased by her parents Janet and Ewen Davidson; her husband of 63 years Allan Skidmore; sister Jean Doherty; brothers Ewen, Richard and Thomas; and son-in-law Gerry Boates.

A funeral will be held at Middleton Funeral Home, 398 Main Street, 1-855-825-3448 on Tuesday, October 8, at 2 p.m. Refreshments will be served after the service. Interment will take place at the Church Grove Cemetery, Melvern Square with family only.

Many thanks to special caregivers at Evergreen for their care and kindness over the last couple of years: a special thank you to Trish, who mom adopted as her "cousin"; to Wanda, who always made a point to give mom a happy greeting and smile; and to Linda, who always did a good job styling mom's hair.

Family flowers only. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Sheila's name to the Salvation Army — Middleton or Bridgetown branch.

Online condolences or memories you may wish to share with the family may be made by visiting: www.middletonfuneralhome.com