Thelma Elizabeth Shaw

Thelma Elazabeth Shaw, 99, passed away peacefully in her Bardsdale home on October 13, 2014 to join her husband of 72 years, Donald. She was born Dec 19, 1914 in Fairmead, California, the daughter of Helen Mae Chadsey and Milford Stanton McCawley. She attended grade school in Fairmead, and moved to Fillmore in August of 1927 with her family to live and work on a cousin of her mother's ranch located south of Hwy 126 and west of Hwy 23.

At midnight on March 12, 1928, the Saint Francis Dam gave way, sending a wall of water down San Franscquito Canyon and the Santa Clara River valley to the ocean in Ventura. The wall of water took out her house in the early morning hours, drowning her mother, father, and older brother, Stanton. Thelma (13 and sick with the measles) was swept 9 miles to Santa Paula where she was trapped in a pile of debri. Approximately 4:00 pm that afternoon she was located by two young men searching for bodies, taken to Santa Paula where a Practical Nurse, Celinda Potter, took her into her home and nursed her for two months. She moved to Bardsdale to live with cousins, and graduated from Fillmore High School, where she met Donald Shaw. She attended Glendale Jr. College for 1 yr., but funds ran out and she returned to Bardsdale. Donald and Thelma were married in the Bardsdale Methodist Church in June, 1936. They lived in Burbank, CA and Culver City, CA until 1946, when they moved back to Bardsdale to care for Don's ailing mother and operate the Ranch. They raised two sons, Douglas and Roger, on the Ranch. Thelma was active in the Bardsdale Church, Bardsdale School, Chocalata Club, a cub scout den mother, and co-head of wedding receptions at the church. Thelma and her husband spent Spring and Fall together on Lake Powell, boating and hiking canyons with family and friends. They were members of the Lake Powell Yacht Club. She loved fixing meals and entertaining new and old friends they met on the lake and many lasting friendships were made.

Thelma was preceded in death by her husband in 2008. Thelma is survived by her son Douglas and his wife Helen, her son Roger, 5 grandchildren, many great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.

A graveside service will be ministered by her husband's nephew, Rev. David Shaw and the Rev. Ed McRae at the Bardsdale Cemetery on Tuesday, October 21, 2014 at 1:00 pm. Memorial donations may be made in her honor to the Bardsdale Methodist Church. Arrangements are under the direction of Skillin Carroll Mortuary.