Obituary: Community stalwart Shirley Spurr | Bay of Plenty News | Local News in Bay of Plenty

She's been described as a stalwart of the community, a local identity and a Waihi icon.

She won a Queen's Service Medal in 2008 for her contribution to her community, and the Hauraki District Council Citizen's Award in 2006. She played a key part in setting up Waihi Community Marae, was Waihi Girl Guides Association secretary for 15 years, a Justice of the Peace and a marriage celebrant.

Shirley Spurr was the secretary-treasurer of the Waihi Community Marae for about 30 years, organising the rebuild of the whole-community (not tribal) marae in the 1980s after its predecessor was destroyed by fire.

The project continued with the completion of the wharekai in 1990, the wharenui in 1999, and the manuhiri shelter in 2006.

Such was here communal respect that both on and off the marae Mrs Spurr became known as "Aunty Shirley", and her women's clothing store in the town became known as the unofficial citizens' advice bureau.

Mrs Spurr was born and bred in Waihi, attending first Waihi South School and then Waihi District High School. And although she said she had "no Maori blood", she grew up at home with two cultures. Her father was educated at a native school, and then built and owned the Kopu Hotel, where all the staff were Maori. This dual culture led to her involvement with local marae.

This week, however, Mrs Spurr suffered the indignity of having all the food for her funeral stolen from the Waihi Memorial Hall the night before her service. In a double blow her niece's florist business, which was to provide the flowers for the funeral, was also burgled and graffitied.

Jacqui Hutchinson, a friend to Mrs Spurr for over 40 years and the robbed caterer for the funeral, said what made the theft most insulting was that Mrs Spurr was so caring she would have helped the burglars if they needed it.

"If they'd wanted the food Shirley would have given it to them," she said.

When she was 17 Mrs Spurr left Waihi on her "OE" to the South Island, where she joined the circus and graduated as a trapeze artist. But she returned to Waihi to marry her husband Dick Spurr, a relationship that was to last for 66 years before she succumbed to cancer.

Waihi Ward chairman Sel Baker said Mrs Spurr's contribution to the Waihi community had been more than deserving of the awards she received.

"Shirley was firm but kind, generous but not foolish, would freely give her time and encouragement to the numerous folk who called into her shop for advice. She was always in control and could relate to all stations of society from the highest to the lowest," he said.

"[She gave a] lifetime contribution to this community - we are a better town because of it."Sam Boyer