Marjorie Faye (Nixon) Rasmussen-Shephard

Obituary for:  Majorie Faye (Nixon) RASMUSSEN-SHEPHARD

Marjorie was one of 6 children of Solan William Nixon and Isabel Oke Nixon.  She was born in Nicholls Hospital, Peterborough, Ontario on September 5, 1935.

In her high school years in Orangeville, Ontario, she was confident her adult career would be a large animal veterinarian.  But life had other plans for her.  She became the proud mother of two sons: Victor and David Rasmussen and then proceeded to have a productive 36-year business world career, instead of tending to ailing, adored large animals.

Life took her to live and work in many parts of Canada – mainly in Ontario, but also for Time Magazine in Calgary for a short period in the early 1960’s.  In Peterborough, she worked for The Quaker Oats Co. Of Canada and her last 4 years there were as Secretary to the President.  She followed a few years later with a position as Executive Secretary for the Ontario Summer Games (1980) committee; a very demanding but thrilling 2 years getting to know and work with over 2000 volunteers to organize events in 22 sports for these Games.  Sports involvement was a large part of Marjorie’s life as she was a coach/instructor in swimming and scuba; downhill and cross-country skiing – even tennis and volleyball for a time.  Her 25-year involvement (at the Board level) of the Kawartha Nordic Ski Club was exciting, and she used her writing skills to produce a proud history book of this club in 2005 (THIRTY DEDECIATED YEARS 1974-2004 of the KNSC).

She was also active as a Board member of the Trinity United Church; Anson House and Marycrest Home for the Aged leading to St. Joseph’s at Fleming Care facility.  As her deep interest in history grew, she joined the Board of Trent Valley Archives as well.  She was a Board member of Lakefield Animal Welfare for many years.  Over the years she has supported many animal shelters, one of her favourites being the Newfoundland Pony Society (anything to do with Newfoundland appealed to her). Life is often contradictory, as she adored the west, where most of her family were – the mountains, sea and yes, the brilliant prairies skies of Saskatchewan.

Marjorie raised her 2 sons on her own from 1960-1971, when she met Walter Shephard, and they married in 1972.  They were one of those early ‘blended’ families. She was a caring stepmother to his children (followed by spouses): David (Monica), Anne (Doug) and Susan (Rob) and a loving grandmother to Catherine, Rosie, Jonathan and Andrew.

Marjorie is survived by her husband Walter (of 55years), her eldest son, Victor John Rasmussen of Wenatchee, Washington State, his wife Louise, and grandson Bryan (Krista) and great-grandchildren, Marshall, Adler, Bodie and Lucie.  Sadly, her youngest son Wm. David Rasmussen, died in 2018 (he will rest with her at her parents' grave in Verulam Cemetery, Bobcaygeon, Ontario).  She is also survived by her siblings: Bill Nixon in Calgary, Wray Nixon in Oliver, BC and Carolyn Joore in Lakefield, ON; and many special nieces and nephews across Canada.  She is especially grateful for the loving care she received from her local nephew:  Michael and Paula Joore, and Christian and Sarah Joore, and their children.

We would like to thank Dr. Blake and the Palliative Team of the Peterborough Regional Health Centre for their kindness, care, and support.

A celebration of Marjories life will be held in the spring. In her memory, donations to Doctor's Without Borders, or The Nature Conservancy of Canada would be appreciated by her family.