Esther Shaw
Jerseyville |
Esther Eunice Shaw (Granny), 89, passed from this life peacefully at 5:45pm, Friday, January 6, 2017 at Willow Rose Nursing Home.
She was born September 7, 1927 in Crocker Missouri to Harry and Rosa Gardner and resided with them until her marriage to Hubert F. (Percy) Shaw on April 1, 1947. They lived around the Jerseyville and Pittsfield areas until Percy passed away October 22, 1970. Shortly after her husband’s death, she opened a Day Care Center to support herself. She cared for children for several decades and was beloved by many children and their parents through the years, affectionately known as Granny in the whole community. Her reputation for loving care and loving discipline kept her day care running for many years. The children she cared for still ask about her and remember her with love. She loved children and babies and would even talk to strangers to make their children smile and laugh. Wherever she went, she was aware of the children.
She was a faithful member of the Gospel Assembly Church for many years. She will be greatly missed where she served in many capacities but especially the Sunday School where she wrote, choreographed and directed the Christmas Pageant for 25+ years. There was no doubt she loved children with a great love.
After Gospel Assembly Church built a new building, she was able to serve one year as the Kindergarten teacher at Memorial Christian Academy. She completed the school year with the children and then retired. One of her Kindergarten students, who also grew up in Eunice’s Daycare, became her close friend and companion for the remainder of her years. Sarah Myers Wilson spent many hours visiting and caring for Eunice until her death.
Eunice loved the outdoors and took great joy in any kind of yard work or outdoor activities. Her yard always looked beautiful and neat. She like to walk and go to the park and she was always up for an adventure. She even asked to mow the yard when she lived at the Senior Assisted Living at Jerseyville Estates.
She was also preceded in death by her daughter, Janet Shaw, in 2008; her parents Harry and Rosa, Brothers Russel, Ted, Emery, Vinton, sisters: Ethel, Ruth, and Jane.
She is survived by one brother Paul Gardner of Dunlap, Illinois.
She is also survived by two sons, Clyde M. (Peggy) Shaw of Jerseyville and Marc (Dorothy) Shaw of Carrollton. 6 grandchildren, Chad Allen of Carbondale, IL; Jennifer (Mike) Nargang of Bourbonnais, IL; Kevin (Amy) Allen of Cobden, IL; Samuel (Gina) Shaw of Alton, IL; Eunice Gayle (Jason) Skelton of Bethalto, IL; and Duncan Shaw of Carrollton, IL. She also had (2) adopted grandsons, James and Lamar Shaw. She was blessed with 7 great-grandchildren, Connor Allen; Nathaniel, Kirsten, and Josie Nargang; and Levi, Lily and Hayden Shaw. Multitudes of friends as well.
An informal memorial service will be held January 27, 6:30 pm at the Gospel Assembly Church, 601 S. June Street, Jerseyville, IL 62052. We invite all to come and share together this wonderful life.
Alexander & Gubser Funeral Home in Charge of Arrangements
Alexander Funeral Home
