<p align="center"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: medium;">Iris Elizabeth</span></p> <p align="center"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: medium;">Shears</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: medium;"> </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Iris Elizabeth Shears passed away peacefully of natural causes at the age of 87 years on May 28</span><sup><span style="font-size: small;">th</span></sup><span style="font-size: medium;">, 2015 with her family by her side, at the Long Term Care Facility in Corner Brook, Newfoundland. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: medium;">At her request, no service was held but a gathering of family and friends at the home of her daughter was held to remember a wonderful woman, and a life rich with experience and love from both family and friends.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Iris was born on May 3</span><sup><span style="font-size: small;">rd</span></sup><span style="font-size: medium;">, 1928 as the fifth child in a family of 2 brothers and four sisters in Daniels Harbor, Newfoundland to George and Susannah Perry. From stories we have been told, she was a free spirit from the beginning.</span><span style="font-size: medium;">  </span><span style="font-size: medium;">She moved to Cormack in 1947 with her husband, Roland C Shears, and their infant daughter Pansy as one of the first settling families in a new farming community. Together they had 2 more children, Rodney and Joy. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After raising her children she moved to Fredericton where she made many life long friendships.</span><span style="font-size: medium;">  </span><span style="font-size: medium;">She returned to Newfoundland, with a desire to be closer to family, living in Corner Brook, and finally back to her home in Cormack.</span><span style="font-size: medium;">  </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: medium;">Throughout her life she was always there to lend a helping hand, a word of advice or simply a caring hug. Despite little formal education, she was a life long learner and a very intelligent woman. She was involved in her communities and had a positive influence on both family and friends. She worked in many different jobs and excelled at every job she held. She had a wonderful strength of character and her grandchildren will always appreciate her life lessons and encouragement to follow our dreams, wherever that may take us.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Iris is survived by her children, Pansy (Edgar) Martin of Bonne Bay Pond, NL; Rodney Shears of</span><span style="font-size: medium;">  </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Thompson, Manitoba and Joy (Dan) Bailey of Cormack, NL; her grandchildren, Trina, Angela, Tina, Deanna, Travis, Danielle, Justin and Vanessa; and her great grandchildren, Brittany, Austin, Cassondra, Paige, Alex, Erin, Jessica, Ewan,</span><span style="font-size: medium;">  </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Rowan, Charlee and Ben and her special dog, Babe. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: medium;">Iris was predeceased by her parents George and Susannah Perry and all of her siblings; Emily (Grant) House, Alvina (Sandy) Paine, Rhoda (Garland) Caines, Regina (Ronald) Biggin, John William (Willie) Perry and Edmund (Eliza) Perry); ex-husband Roland Shears. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: medium;">In her spirit of giving and love of knowledge, Iris donated her remains to the Memorial University of Newfoundland, Faculty of Medicine Anatomical Gift Program.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: medium;">She will always be remembered in our hearts for her love, generous spirit and the comfort she enjoyed from being with family and friends.</span></p>