John Valentine SHAY

SHAY, ENGLAND, WHELAN, TURNER, MELTON, ROOF, HART, SHEIL, FINCH, MADINGER, PESICKA, HARPER, HAYES

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 8/31/2011 at 02:18:13

Clearfield Enterprise
Clearfield, Iowa
Thursday, April 20, 1931

Blockton News ~ J. V. SHAY DEAD

John Valentine SHAY, an aged and highly respected citizen of Blockton, died at his home in Blockton Monday evening about 5 o'clock following a few weeks illness.

Mr. SHAY was born in Baltimore, Maryland, Feb. 14, 1849, and was aged 82 years, 2 months and 13 days at the time of his death.

He was a brother of Mrs. Joe ENGLAND, and relatives from this community attended the funeral.

Funeral services were held at the Christian church yesterday afternoon at 2:30, conducted by Rev. J. A. DILLINGER of Des Moines, a former pastor. Interment was made in Rose Hill cemetery, Blockton. Obituary next week.

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Hulan SHAY, of Creston, was called here the first of the week by the fatal illness of his grandfather, J. V. Shay.

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Clearfield Enterprise
Clearfield, Iowa
Thursday, May 7, 1931

OBITUARY ~ J. V. SHAY

John Valentine SHAY was born in Baltimore, Maryland, Feb. 14, 1849, and died at his home in Blockton, April 27, 1931, aged 82 years, 2 months and 13 days.

He was born soon after his parents [Luke SHAY and Julia WHELAN SHAY] came to America from Ireland and was the eldest of a family of 9 children. He came with his parents to Clarke county, Iowa, in 1851, soon after moving to Union county and then to Ringgold county in 1854 where he lived for 40 years.

He was married to [Mary] Emma TURNER April 4, 1872. To this union five children were born — Ralph L[eo]. deceased; Roy O[laf]., of St. Joseph, Mo.; Dr. L[luke]. E[rnest]. SHAY, of Atchison, Kansas; Faye ROOF, of Blockton, and Mary [Margaret] MELTON of Goodland, Kansas.

Besides his immediate family he leaves to mourn his death three brothers - T[homas]. S[tephen]., W[illiam]. H[enry]. and M[ichael]. C[hauncey]. SHAY of Maloy — and one sister— Margaret E[llen] HART of St. Louis — who was unable to be present on account of illness. He also leaves seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren besides a host of other relatives and friends. All of his children and two grandchildren were at his bedside when death called him away.

He was baptised in infancy in the Roman Catholic faith of which his parents were devoted members. He was a regular attendant at the Christian church with his wife and family and interested in all church affairs. He took especial interest in his hometown and community and was a member of town council for a number of years.

On Feb. 28, 1894, he moved to the family home in Blockton which he purchased and where he resided until his death. His wife preceded him in death July 26, 1925, after which his daughter, Faye ROOF and family moved into his home so he might spend his remaining years at the family home.

Mr. and Mrs. SHAY celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary April 4, 1922, at their home, surrounded by their children, grandchildren and Mr. SHAY'S brothers and sister.

John, or J. V. as so many called him, was a livestock dealer of note in his younger life, being one of the largest livestock buyers and shippers of Ringgold and Taylor counties for a number of years.

Mr. SHAY was a regular visitor at the Wilbur WALTON barbershop every Saturday afternoon when weather permitted and enjoyed meeting so many of his older friends and visiting. He was interested in all the events of the day and his mind was alert until a few hours before death. His last illness was of seven weeks duration. His suffering was intense at times but he was always so patient and thoughtful of those caring for him.

He was a kind husband and loving father and a great lover of home, especially in his declining years. He was confined to his home a great deal of the time the past few years on account of his eyesight and being unable to get around without the use of his two canes. He was especially fond of little folks and a lover of all mankind.

Mr. SHAY had arranged his funeral services as near as possible like those of his wife, using same songs, using same minister and assistant and the same singers, Mrs. REEVES singing "Face to Face" as a solo. He had also chosen his nephews as pallbearers.

Funeral services were held at the Christian church Wednesday afternoon at 2:30, conducted by Rev. Arthur J. DILLINGER of Des Moines and assisted by Rev. Harold REEVES of Albany, Mo. On account of his wide acquaintance a number were unable to get into the church. Interment was made in Rose Hill cemetery [Blockton].

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Among the relatives and friends from a distance, not previously mentioned, attending the J. V. SHAY funeral over two weeks ago were Mrs. Tom SHEIL and son, and Charley SHAY, of Des Moines; Mrs. C. E. FINCH, Shannon City; Oak and Mike HART and Margaret and Leah NOLAN, of St. Louis; Otto MADINGER, J. L. PESICKA, J. B. HAYES and wives, and Mr. HARPER of St. Joseph, and A. J. ROOF and wife.

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Mrs. Mary [Margaret] MELTON and son Paul left Monday evening for their home at Goodland, Kansas, having been called here by the illness and death of her father, J. V. SHAY.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, August of 2011