Dr. Neil Patrick Shea

With his wry smile and confident words, he lived a life beyond the norm, affecting lives throughout the Kansas City area and helping to shape a generation.

With his daughters at his side, Shea died peacefully on Feb. 1, 2015, from natural causes.

He is survived by his daughters, Kathleen Ann Schatte (Shea) of Overland Park, KS, and Sarah Estelle Sizemore Shea-Cahir of Shawnee, KS; his grandchildren, Cameron Sizemore, Andrew Schatte, Aidan Cahir, Alida Cahir, and Ginger Shea-Cahir; his sons-in-law, David Schatte and Ian Shea-Cahir; and his cousins, Steve Peters of Shell Knob, MO, Daniel Shea Peters of Boston, and many cousins in the greater St. Louis, Missouri area.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Jean Shea (Smith) on Jan. 31, 2004.

Shea was born in Kansas City, KS, to O’Neil Patrick Shea and Mary Josephine Shea (Gillespie). He grew up in Kansas City, KS, and attended Bishop Ward High School. After graduating, he attended Donnelly College and graduated with an associate’s degree in business.

In 1960, Shea married the love of his life, Betty Jean, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Raytown, MO. They were married 43 years until Betty Jean passed away. Their life together was filled with love and adventure, and Neil’s professional career allowed him to touch many facets of the community.

During his life, Shea owned an ambulance company, he was a wedding photographer, he co-owned a travel agency, and he was a travel coordinator for Johnson County Parks and Recreation.

He also was a police officer, serving as a deputy with the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Department and as an officer Kansas City, KS; Mission, KS; and Olathe, KS, where he retired as a captain.

While he was a police officer, he often said, “I made a deal with Betty that I needed to be around for a long time for my family. That’s when I decided to get my doctorate.”

A Jayhawk to the core, Shea graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1964, a Master of Education in 1967, and a Doctorate of Education in 1977.

He joined his wife, an elementary school teacher, in the pursuit of promoting education. He was a student teacher at Shawnee Mission East High School in Prairie Village; he taught English and social studies at Old Mission Junior High; he taught American Government and English at Shawnee Mission South High School in Overland Park and was the first yearbook advisor for The Heritage in 1967-68; and he was principal at De Soto Junior High School.

In a card sent to Shea in 2014, a former teacher of his commented, “Your name comes up when the teachers of DJH get together. You were appreciated.”

Shea’s involvement in the community went far beyond the classroom. He was a Kansas City Chiefs season ticket holder and a charter member of the Red Coaters, working with the Chiefs for 44 years. He made numerous appearances as a frequent volunteer for Chiefs’ Charities. He was a member of the Kansas City Royals Lancers, the Kansas NEA, and the KU Alumni Association.

After retiring from education, Shea remained active, working well past his 81st birthday for a Merriam printing company.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Charlie’s House Community Outreach at charlieshouse.org.

Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 5, at McGilley and Hoge Johnson County Memorial Chapel in Overland Park. Services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 6 at Curé of Ars Catholic Church in Leawood with burial to follow at Resurrection Cemetery in Lenexa.