Velma Marie SHAW

Velma
Jun 29, 1927
Mar 13, 2014

Chester
Jul 1, 1927
Oct 17, 2015

Velma Marie (McClenahan) Shaw was born on June 29, 1927 and went to be with her Savior on March 13, 2014. She was the sixth of 12 children born into the loving family of Eli and Margaret (Baker) McClenahan.

She married Chester Shaw on August 24, 1947. They were able to share 66 wonderful years together. They were blessed to have two children, Dale Lee Shaw and Donna Kay (Shaw) Smith.

Velma was a hard worker and had several jobs over the years, including Boeing, Brauer Brothers, and Brown Shoe Company. Many people called her Donnie and her family affectionately called her Aunt Donnie. While she was working as a cook at Cabool Schools, her son-in-law Pete gave her her favorite nickname, Granny. She loved it so much she even had a sweatshirt made with Granny written across the back. While working at school she would stop and pick up her granddaughter Sandy and they would ride to school together. Some very special memories were made because Sandy was able to see her Granny every day going to school and at lunch.

Velma loved to read and embroider. Her love of reading she passed on to her children, Dale and Kay. Her love of embroidery she taught to both Kay and Sandy. Hundreds of quilts and tea towels were made by her hands and with a whole lot of love. Many of her family and friends have quilts made by her. Chester once teased her that there were many hours of soap operas watched while making those quilts.

At the time of her passing, she was a member of Pleasant Hill Free Will Baptist Church and had also attended Providence Church for a time.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Eli and Margaret McClenahan; her son, Dale Shaw; her sisters, Eunice Stambaugh, Alice Franklin and Joyce Tinsley; and her brothers, Hall, Eli Jr., James, Perry and Wayne.

She is survived by her husband, Chester Shaw of the home; her sisters, Elvira and Herbert Brill of Cabool, Missouri, and Eva Mae Clingerman and June and Jerome Walburn of Wichita, Kansas; her daughter, Donna Kay and Pete Smith of Cabool; her granddaughter, Sandra Kay (Smith) and Michael Boykin of Norwood, Missouri; her grandsons, Alan Dale Shaw of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Kevin Lee Shaw of Nixa, Missouri; and many wonderful nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and even great-great-nieces and nephews and friends too numerous to name, but who all loved her very much. [egcfuneralhome.com]

Chester Lee Shaw, 88 passed peacefully in his sleep on October 17, 2015 at the Willow Care Nursing Home in Willow Springs, MO. He was born at home in Douglas County, Missouri on July 1, 1927 the son of William “Mac” and Bessie (Kile) Shaw.
Chester was a man of great determination and independence. He recently told his family that when he was 15 years old he decided that he would pack his bags and walk to town and find a job. He walked into town and met a farmer and so began his first job. He served in the Marine Corp and loved telling stories of his time in service. He also took joy in telling that he rode a ship to China, served his country, and rode it back home with a friend that he met in boot camp and served the entire time together. Until his retirement he was a mechanic for Charles Ward Trucking and then Cabool Lease. He always showed up an hour early for work to make his coffee and then off to his part of the shop to work in peace and quiet.
His hobbies were wood-working, reading and gardening. Many of his family and friends still have a wooden clock that he made them. Recently one of his nephews was saying that even though the second hand had fallen off he still had his clock that Uncle Chester had made him. He also loved to read western books and even when glaucoma took his eyesight he still loved to listen to westerns on tape. Along with his love of reading he was a fantastic gardener; his garden rarely had a weed and if one was brave enough to sprout up it didn't last long. But like with his reading he was no longer able to garden when he lost his sight. His eyesight may have been a challenge but he did not let that hold him back. After losing his beloved wife he was still very independent, he cared for himself, did his own laundry and even cooked for himself which he was very proud of.
He and his wife attended Providence Church until they were unable to. They met many good people there that became lifelong friends; one of which, Bill, called him daily until he had to move to the nursing home to say “Just wanted you to know that you have a friend.” It always made Chester smile and laugh and he looked forward to that call every day, even when Bill would call him at 1 a.m. He would laugh and say “Oh that Bill.”
Chester was not only blessed with a loving family but many wonderful friends. Benny and Marge Reed were always there for him and he always looked forward to them dropping by just to visit. He laughed because his cat, Sam was such “good buddies” with Benny. He always made sure that they were invited to Thanksgiving dinner; he enjoyed their company very much.
He was very close to his brother-in-law, Herb who made sure that if he wanted he was able to come to Sunday dinner. Herb would come get him and take him back home. Chester nicknamed him “The Taxi”. I am sure many good stories were told in those miles between those two houses.
Chester was preceded in death by his parents, William “Mac” Shaw and Bessie (Kile) Shaw; his loving wife, Velma Marie (McClenahan) Shaw and his son, Dale Lee Shaw. He is survived by his two sisters, Nellie Carnes and Doris Riggs; his daughter, Donna Kay Smith and her husband, Pete; his granddaughter, Sandra Kay Boykin and her husband, Mike; two grandsons, Alan Dale Shaw and Kevin Lee Shaw and many wonderful nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him. [egcfuneralhome.com]

Contributed on 10/25/14 by mjrwag
Email This Contributor

Suggest a Correction

Record #: 758530

Don't Follow