Tributes to Chesterfield woman and ‘special person’ who died after battle with Alzheimer’s disease

Sheila McCree, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in her early 60s and died last year aged 72, left £82,699 to Alzheimer’s Research UK.

Sheila enjoyed a successful career in IT project management and training, having been a pioneer when computer systems were introduced in businesses in the late 1970s.

Sheila was born and grew up in Sunderland and was the youngest of four children.

She completed a degree in sociology at Sheffield University in 1967 and her first job was with Dunlopillo in Harrogate working in market research. In the late 1970s she was given responsibility for reorganising the sales department to make efficient use of new computer systems. As part of this she learned to programme computers herself.

In 1981 she joined construction company Henry Boot becoming a key member of the team that successfully rolled out computer systems in 14 divisions across the world.

Outside of work Sheila was a keen walker and led walks for the Harrogate and Chesterfield groups of the Ramblers Association. She was a great music lover and sang with the Harrogate Choral Society and the Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir. She also enjoyed yoga, DIY, gardening and spending time with her sister and niece.

She travelled widely, with her more memorable adventures including Machu Picchu and the Trans-Siberian Railway as well as trips to South Africa, China and Australia.

Sheila’s sister Dr Hazel Emslie said: “Our maternal grandmother had dementia and our mother was diagnosed with vascular dementia in her late 60s, so when Sheila was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in her early 60s she knew what to expect. She therefore changed her Will to support research.

“Sheila was a very special person. She enjoyed her family and her varied social life, had a successful career and was much loved by those who knew her.”

Georgina Hyman, Legacy & In Memoriam Manager at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “We are so grateful to Sheila for leaving us a gift in her Will.

“The generosity shown by Sheila and others like her makes one in three of our pioneering research projects possible. Therefore, her gift is incredibly important in our mission to help scientists discover new treatments and find ways of tackling the diseases that cause dementia.

“Gifts in Wills are crucial in helping us make life-changing breakthroughs for people with dementia and helping to protect our children, grandchildren and future generations from the fear and heartbreak of dementia.”