Obituary of Margaret Ann Shearman

Shearman, Margaret Ann 1938-2023 The footlights have dimmed across Eastern Ontario with the passing of Margaret Shearman on Saturday April 9, 2023, at Kingston General Hospital. Margaret's lifetime involvement in Community Theatre is epic, beginning with her career as a young teenager in her native England. Always by her side, and often on stage with her, was her husband Dick, who she met at 15 and later married, in their hometown of Seaford, Sussex, 65 years ago. They came to Canada in the early 1960s where Dick joined the Canadian Army and the two began the nomadic life of a military family. Wherever the Shearmans were posted, Margaret found innovative ways to enrich her community as an artist and as an entrepreneur, for instance cofounding the Camp Petawawa Players. She and Dick retired to Merrickvile in 1989, and her local legacy began. For the Eastern Ontario Drama League (EODL), she stage managed the first One-Act Festival, created the website, served as newsletter editor, and helped develop an evaluation system for choosing EODL Festival groups. She is also a past President of EODL. Closer to home, she has acted, directed and produced for Kemptville Players, Tara Players, Ottawa Little Theatre, and Theatre Night In Merrickville, to which she devoted 30 years, 20 as an Executive member, and was involved in more than 50 productions, winning a number of EODL awards in the process. Margaret and Dick were also active in the Heritage Merrickville Foundation and as potters with their Canal House Studio. In 2011 she was named Senior of the Year by the Municipality of Merrickville Wolford, "In recognition of your outstanding contributions to our community after age 65." In 2012, she received Theatre Ontario's Michael Spence Award "For an outstanding and sustained contribution to Community Theatre in Ontario." Needless to say, she has touched the lives of hundreds of thespians who will all mourn her loss. Margaret is predeceased by her son David Stephen Shearman, whose 9 year old son, Nigel Samayualie, came to live with his grandparents 17 years ago, blessing their lives with an infusion of renewed youth. She is survived, also, by her loving husband Richard (Dick) Russell Shearman; daughter Peggy Shearman (Murphy) and son Christopher(Chris) Richard Russell Shearman; granddaughters Sarah Murphy and Samantha (Sam) Lynn Shearman, and her mother Giselle d'Entrement; grandsons Jason Murphy and Josh Murphy. A Celebration of Life will be held on April 20th at the Merrickville Legion, 229 Main St West, from 5pm-9 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please go out and enjoy a play. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Lannin Funeral Home. Online condolences available at www.lannin.ca