Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa

Teresa Cecelia EASON, eldest daughter of Cornelius and Ella DONOVAN EASON, was born May 8, 1890, on a farm in Union County, and passed away at the Clearview Home in Mount Ayr on July 14, 1975, after suffering a stroke, at the age of 85 years, 2 months and 6 days.

After attending rural schools in Union and Ringgold Counties, she was graduated from the Normal Training Course at St. Joseph Academy in Des Moines in 1907. She then taught in the rural schools of Ringgold County until her marriage.

In 1911, she was united in marriage to Joseph Leo SHAY of Maloy at St. John's Catholic Church in Diagonal. To this union were born four daughters, Mildred, Des Moines; Maxine (Mrs. Maurice CARR), Mount Ayr; Eileen (Mrs. Kenneth HUTCHINSON), Grinnell; and Rosalie (Mrs. Joe McFARLAND), Ottuwma.

Mr. and Mrs. SHAY established their home on a farm near MALOY where they lived for 50 years until the death of Mr. SHAY in October, 1961.

Since that time she has lived in Mount Ayr. She was a member of Immaculate Conception Church in Maloy, and for the past 14 years of St. Joseph Catholic CHurch in Mount Ayr.

Funeral services were held in Maloy on July 17, with Father Joseph McDONNELL as celebrant. He ws assisted by Father Kenneth GROSS. Mrs. SHAY'S niece, Mrs. Donelle CUSACK, Fonda, sang "Ava Maria" (Schubert), and Mrs. Joyce WEEHLER, Maloy, accompanied congregational singing for the opening and closing hymns.

Casketbearers were her grandsons: William HUTCHINSON, Middletown, Conn., Daniel CARR, New York City, N.Y.; Stephen HUTCHINSON, San Diego, Calif.; Thomas CARR, Menominee, Wis.; and Neil McFARLAND, San Antonio, Tx., and her nephew, Robert T. SHAY, Maloy. Interment was in St. Mary's Cemetery at Maloy.

In addition to her daughters and grandsons, Mrs. SHAY is survived by three granddaughters: Mrs. Jon HOVE, (Martha CARR), New Ulm, Minn.; Mrs. Pat PICKENS (Tere HUTCHINSON), Pocatello, Ida.; and Mrs. Mary CARLSON (Sheila McFARLAND), Muscatine; eight great-grandchildren, Natalie McFARLAND, Jason, Danny, Jackie and Jeff CARR; Eric HOVE, Leslie and Chris PICKENS; two sisters, Mrs. Elizabeth DUNLAY, Laguna, Calif., and Mrs. Berneice GROGAN, Chariton, and two brothers, Paul EASON of Mount Ayr and Dr. Claire EASON of O'Neill, Neb.

A sister, Mrs. Marie LAMBERT, preceded her in death.

Having lost both her parents before she was 20, Mrs. SHAY was a source of inspiration and guidance to her younger sisters the youngest of whom only three when the mother passed away, made her home with the SHAYS for several years. Her home was always open to them and their families. Later it was the scene of many happy times for her children and grandchildren.

She enjoyed unusual rapport with her grandchildren, all of whom maintained close ties with her in spite of the distances separating them. They were always assured of her intest in their accomplishments and in their lives.

Even though Mrs. SHAY suffered from arthritis for many years, she was always cheerful and alert. One of her greatest joys was to be able to attend Mass each Sunday. Until her last short illness, she was able to remain in her own home with a faithful friend, Mrs. Della CULVER. As one neighbor said, "She was an inspiration to the neighborhood." She also was an inspiration to her family.

A memorial for the Arthritis Foundation has been established in her name.

Transciption by Sharon R. Becker, July of 2011

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