She was 38 when she died, her life span predetermined by genetics. Her father was 26 when he passed on and her mother died at 29.
A hard worker, her kind and gentle nature was well known in her rural community. Her memory will live on in her more than 10 children and two generations of an Alberta ranching family, the Burpees, who were proud to call her friend.
Born in 1959 at Hughenden, Alta., of Middle Eastern and Eastern European descent, she lived through a generation that saw the first human on the moon, disco and supersonic travel.
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Life history
Sha-Em worked on the ranch helping to develop ranching skills in the Burpee family children. She took part in annual cattle drives, turned up in show rings at local agricultural fairs and drew the attention of children at almost every outing.
At local fairs she helped five-year-old Heather Degenhardt win first in her class at a horse show. She also helped an 80-year-old contender for the Czar, Alta. rodeo queen title, earn her crown with a strong showing in the riding competition.
There was little she wouldn’t do for the Burpee family with whom she lived. She even sold her children to pay for the university education of a ranch girl, Heather Burpee.
Sha-Em, an Arabian mare, died from a stroke on the Rancho Gango, near Hughenden, Alta., this past winter. Hers was an exceptionally long life by horse standards.
