Frederic Milton Shaw
July 31, 1942 – July 25, 2015
It is with the most profound sadness and shock that the family of Fred Shaw announce his passing on Saturday July 25th at 9 pm in Edson, Alberta.
Fred was given a terminal liver cancer diagnosis on July 10, 2015 and his sudden and swift passage from the athletic, active and engaging husband, father, grandfather and friend, has weighed heavily in the hearts of the family he leaves to mourn him: his wife of almost 52 years; Lynn, daughters Sherry-Lynn Shaw-Froggatt, Lisa Brekke and Tracy Shaw-Aché, granddaughters Jeanine Froggatt, Ali Froggatt, Madison McGovern, Caralee McGovern and Haley Aché, step-grandchildren Jillian and Colin Brekke and sons-in-law Rob Brekke and Scott Froggatt. He is also survived by his sister Judy Locke and her son Jeremy Locke, his partner Joanne and their children Phoenix and William all of Whitehorse, Yukon.
Fred was born in Thunder Bay Ontario to Eleanor (nee Rowe) and Edgar Shaw on July 31, 1942. He started a career in retail at 15, as a delivery/stock boy in a men’s store. His career took him across Canada all the way to Port Alberni, Edmonton, Burnaby, Saskatoon, Prince George, Devon and finally Edson where he became an entrepreneur as owner of Stedman’s V&S.
Fred was a highly respected and well-loved member of the Edson business community for 25 years involved with the Chamber of Commerce, Lions, K-40 and Edson Credit Union. He was also an all-round athlete, from high school football and track star to golfing daily, skiing the fresh powder at Marmot Basin and even taking up hockey in his mid-40s. He was a passionate sailor and lover of all adventure and travel. In his 60s he discovered tennis and it became his biggest sporting passion.
But his biggest passion in life was family. His devotion and doting on Lynn was legend. Even in his last days his concern was that Lynn would be taken care of. He was boastfully proud of his daughters and sons-in-law and his biggest thrill was being Grandpa Fred. His devotion to his grandchildren was second to none. His proudest achievement was “raising three successful women who gave birth to five exceptional granddaughters”.
Fred was a highly respected member of the Shriner community. Fred became a brother of the Free Mason in 1967. In 1975 Fred became a Noble of the Al Azhar Shrine Club and in 1985 Fred joined the Al Shamal Shrine Club. In 1991, he was one of the founding members of the Northern Lights Shrine Club (Edson). In 2005 he became a proud Noble of the prestigious Shrine Motor Corps.
Fred was fortunate to enjoy retirement to its fullest, Lynn and Fred travelled extensively, but their hearts were in Mesa Arizona each winter since 2005. There, Fred became a well known and loved member of the retirement community of Viewpoint. In retirement he stayed engaged and involved, organizing tennis and Shriner activities. He was known in Viewpoint for his bicycle, tennis acumen, quick wit and compassion for others.
The Shaw family would like to thank Dr Rudi Gous for his care, compassion and respect of Fred as a patient. A special thank you to those nurses and Dr. Jo-Ann Robinson at the Edson Hospital who worked diligently to bring Fred some comfort in his final hours.
A celebration of Fred’s life took place at the Edson Legion on August 12 at 2pm.
The family invites those who knew Fred to come and remember him with love and laughter. In lieu of flowers, it was Fred’s specific wish that donations be made in his name to the Al Shamal Shriners, 14510 - 142 Street, Edmonton, Alberta - T6V 1H9.
To send condolences on line, please visit our website at www.edsonfuneralhome.com
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