Earl and Jean (Simpson) Shiels used to own and operate the Pine View General Store.
The couple came to Prince George in 1953 from Prairie River, Saskatchewan.
Jean said, "I have many stories to tell about interesting events that happened during the years that we operated the store. During that time we were both involved with our young sons as Cub and Scout leaders for many years. We were heavily involved with the Pine View Recreation Commission for 19 years. Our favorite job was the pancake breakfast fundraisers. Operating the store kept us extremely busy all the time. There was always a steady flow of customers that wanted gas or needed something from our feed and tack store. My husband, who passed away in 1995, did all the running back and forth from the store and out to the gas pump beginning at 9 am right up to 9 pm seven days a week. One day he complained and said, 'I'm so busy pumping gas that I can't even sit down to smoke a cigarette so let's just sell this place'. I asked him to think about it for awhile and a few weeks later the decision was made to sell."
After the sale of the Pine View General Store Earl went into logging and Jean went to work at the Art Knapp's south side store for the next 15 years. After that Jean cooked in logging camps until she retired in 1985.
Together the couple raised three boys: Brian of Brandon, Manitoba, Larry of Carville, Alberta, and John who lives here in Prince George. Their sons in turn gave them 5 grand children and eight great grand sons. Jean said, "The boys did great in gymkhana and horse shows. They were always busy. The farm was a great place for them and they all three sure learned how to work and to work together."
Jean, who is now 84 years old is still active and has quite a track record of volunteer work in our community. For 16 years she was one of the many quilters that met every Thursday at the Salvation Army Church to make quilts or to crochet afghans. Jean said, "I have no idea how many quilts and afghans we made - I just know that we made a lot. That number is not important; what is important was the fact that we were helping people in need. It gave us all a chance to get out and make new friends. Many years later these friendships are still going strong. We might have slowed down a bit over the years but we are still involved in our community."
In addition to her work at the Salvation Army Jean volunteers her time making slippers for the Phoenix Transition House and chemo hats for cancer patients.
Jean can be found playing cards three afternoons and two evenings a week at three of the five senior centres around town. Jean praises senior centres and says, "The senior centres are all a great place to spend your retirement; a place to catch up on the news with your old friends and to make new friends."
March birthdays that I know about: Caroline Nadalin, Elaine Hughes, Karen Nielsen, George McGlynn, Hollis Wood, Janice Arndt, John Meyer, Eileen Storozinski, Richard McCormack, Ken Carmichael, Cecelia Bencher, Wilf Miller, Ada Turgeon, Luzia Torres, Rose Dorish, Deanna Sauer, Linda Meise, Alex Murray, Frances Roch, Kathy Smith, Doreen Denicola, Dorthea Pelz, Pat Coutts, Kathleen Soltis, Julia Cook, Nelson Chapman, Peggy Vogan, James Dow, Marva Gibbs, Harold Moore, Vic Steblin, Sylvia Fowler, Ted Horvath, Ethel Drake, Wayne Jenkins, Eileen Storozinski and Bob Krekoski.
