Evelyn A Shea

Evelyn A. (Ray) Shea, age 97, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 10, 2025 at Primrose Silver Lace Memory Care. She was born in Letart Falls, Ohio, but grew up in Junction City, Ohio where her father, the late Reverend LT Norris (mother, Belinda Wolfe Norris), served as pastor at the Mount Zion United Brethren Church prior to his services as a chaplain in WWII. She was the third child of a family with three sisters and five brothers, one having passed away in infancy. Evelyn was the tom-boy of the family well suited to holding her own with her wild brothers. She used to delight in relation stories of her exploits of playing dare-devil games with the boys, much to the dismay of her two older sisters. Growing up in church life as a PK, (preacher’s kid), she always participated in vacation bible school instruction, and in her teen years as a Sunday school teacher and Salvation Army camp counselor. She met and married the late Wayne H. Ray, a handsome young Sargent returned from his service in Europe during WWII. They had two sons, Mike and David. At the age of 28, she decided to fulfill a dream and go to college to be a teacher, harkening back to her youth experiences in church and following in her mother’s footsteps. Wayne worked two jobs. One as a prison guard in Columbus, and the other with he and Evelyn wallpapering many area homes and churches, well into the late hours, to get her through school. She began teaching in Lancaster at the first Tallmadge Elementary, later at South Elementary and then at Stanberry Jr. High. She was able to secure some scholarship funds to later help earn her Master’s of Guidance Counseling degree and moved into that position at the jr. high and later high school vocational level. She retired after 30 years of service. In retirement she remained a faithful servant of the Lord and teacher of his word in various capacities.

After the passing of her husband of 40 years, she was fortunate to re-acquaint with her first (teenage years) boyfriend, Thomas J. Shea, who himself was a widower. They were happily married for 35 years prior to his passing in 2021 due to Covid.

Evelyn is survived by one sister, Janelle (Jerry) Kaehr, her sons, Mike and David (Jenifer) Ray, step-children, Judy Morehead and Mike (Dana) Shea, 10 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and many beloved nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by two wonderful husbands, and seven brothers and sisters.

Funeral Services will be held at HALTEMAN-FETT & DYER FUNERAL HOME on Monday, February 17, 2025 at 11AM with Visitation from 4PM-7PM on Sunday and ONE HOUR PRIOR to the services on Monday. Burial will be at Floral Hills Memory Gardens on Coonpath Road.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make a donation to a local church of your choice in her memory.