John Raymond Shay, age 80, of Morgantown, passed away Wednesday evening, November 21, 2018, at his residence with his family at his side.
He was born January 11, 1938, in Westernport, Md., a son of the late James LaRue Shay and the late Laura Kitzmiller Shay.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Shirley M. Walker Shay; his children, Kasandra M. Shay and her husband Michael Killoren, of State College, Pa., and Kimberly R. Wright and her husband Laird, of Morgantown; his grandchildren, Matias I. Diez Shay, Katelyn Marie Killoren, and Alexandra Renee (Lexi), Caleb Matthew and Ian Andrew Wright; sister, Alta Rose Cannon and her husband Granville, of Selbyville, Del., and his twin sister, Joanne R. Beavers and her husband Woodrow, of Keyser; a sister-in-law, Polly Shay, of Pittsburgh; a brother-in-law, Raymond McDowell, of Burlington, and many nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Mary Thelma Green, Laura Jean Steward, and Julia Louise McDowell; and his brothers, Lewis Dorsey, James Calvin and Luther Ray Shay.
John graduated from Bruce High School, in Westernport, Md., Class of 1956. He served in the United States Air Force from 1956-1960. He then enrolled at WVU where he graduated in 1965, with a BA degree, and obtained his master’s degree in 1969, in Guidance and Counseling. He worked for Sterling Faucet Company from 1965-1967 and then worked as a Guidance Counselor for 28 years at Clay Battelle High School and Morgantown High School, where he retired in 1997.
John was an active member of the Church of the Good Shepherd, in Grafton.
Friends may join the family to honor John’s life and legacy at Smith Funeral & Cremation Carefrom 1 – 3 p.m. and 6 – 8 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 25, and from noon on Monday, Nov. 26, until the time of the funeral service at 1 p.m. John will be laid to rest at the Fairview Cemetery, in Pisgah, with Full Military Honors accorded at the graveside.
Condolences: smithfcc.com
