Bill Don Shaw

Billy Don Shaw was born on June 25, 1927, in Miami, Florida, to Rufus and Myra Shaw. Soon after he was born, Rufus and Myra packed up Bill, his siblings Jack and Mary, strapped their saint bernard to car’s running board and drove to Metzger, Oregon. He grew up there, leaving high school early to work at the Oregon Shipyards. In 1945, toward the end of World War II, Bill turned 18 and enlisted in the United States Navy. He served for a year and half in the Philippines, Okinawa and Japan as a Motor Machinist’s Mate, Petty Officer 3rd Class. It was his time in the Navy when he met the love of his life. On August 18, 1949, He married Dorothy Edna Sturm. Bill adored Dorothy and they were married for 63 years. They lived together in Tigard, Oregon and had four children: Linda, Mike, David and Sandra. He and Dorothy loved to take the kids camping and fishing. Bill and the kids loved to hunt for nightcrawlers together out in the yard for their next fishing trip. He also built them a playground out in their backyard. He would often stop after work to pick up snacks to put in his lunchbox for his kids to find when he got home. He also loved deer hunting with his brother Jack and the rest of his family. Bill worked for the Union Pacific Railroad for 37 years, until he retired in 1987. Soon after, they moved to Ocean Park, Washington. Bill and Dorothy enjoyed their home by the ocean where they loved taking long walks, clamming, and salmon fishing in his boat, “The Dorothy E.”.They also enjoyed getting visits from grandchildren and family. They were grandparents to 19 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren. In 2008, Bill and Dorothy moved to Lafayette, Oregon to be closer to those grandchildren and great grandchildren. They were able see those grandchildren and great grandchildren grow up and were proud of each and all of their accomplishments. Bill will be remembered for his mischievous sense of humor, his love of fishing and his love of ice cream. But more importantly, his legacy is of being a hard worker, a father who loved provided for his children, and a doting husband to the love of his life.