Kathleen Ann Shaw
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| November 3, 1956 ~ June
22, 2011 |
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June 26, 2011 |
 Kathleen
A. Shaw passed away June 22, 2011, at Bonner
General Hospital in Sandpoint. A memorial
service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, June 27,
in the Bonners Ferry Funeral Home.
Kathy moved with her family to Barstow,
California, when she was very young. She lived
only one block away from the boy who would one
day become her husband. Kathy and I used to ride
mini-bikes together in a dirt lot as children,
and went to the same schools, and even sat in
some of the same class rooms. Jerry also was her
paper boy for four years, and even adopted one
of the puppies from her favorite dog Missy.
While in high school, Kathy's mother passed
away, leaving Kathy the oldest of three siblings
with the responsibilities of a mother. To this
day, her brothers and sisters looked up to Kathy
as their mentor and confidant.
Kathy was married for a short time to William
Leverette and gave birth to a boy named Justin.
William was not ready for children and the
marriage ended, leaving Kathy as a single parent
with a new born.
On shore leave, Jerry and Kathy met again at a
party on New Years Eve in 1979. They felt a deep
connection and married seven months later on
July 25, 1980. Jerry and Kathy had two more boys
named Curtis and Daniel. Kathy was very proud of
all her children and sacrificed everything to
give them all that she could.
Kathy worked at Fort Irwin NTC for almost twenty
years, gaining the position of manager of a
large work force made up primarily of men. She
had a unique ability to foster respect and
loyalty from all who worked for her and knew
her. She talked soft and carried a big stick.
People worked for her because they wanted to,
with many applicants wanting to transfer into
her shop just to get a chance to work for her.
Kathy loved horses, and converted Jerry into a
horseman to go on and show Morgan horses in
regional and national events. Kathy would just
take off at a show and wonder around meeting
people and their horses. Someone would ask
“Where is Kathy?” and the typical answer is
“She's on a walk-about” a term we fondly used to
describe her care free nature.
Kathy and Jerry toured most of the 50 states
looking for the place they wanted to call home,
marking off each one that did not meet their
desires. Then they stopped for the night in
Coeur D'Alene and fell in love with the
Northwest. For the next five years, Kathy would
drag realtors through over 100 homes from Coeur
D'Alene to Bonners Ferry looking for that
perfect spot to call home. The realtor's
frustrations and pain finally came to an end
when she found our new home in Bonners Ferry.
She could have her horses, and enjoy the
offerings of this wonderful place. Kathy enjoyed
fishing, and by far out fished Jerry. They would
go on nature hikes with the dogs, and took in
all of it with appreciation for nature.
Kathy endured a lot in her life, and provided
for her husband and family with everything she
had. She asked for nothing, wanted nothing more
than to grow old with Jerry and watch her grand
children grow up.
Her life was cut short at an early age of only
54. She will always be remembered by those whose
heart she touched.
Kathy is survived by her husband, Jerry; father,
William Sheridan; brother, Bill Sheridan;
sister, Laura Haverlock; sister, Julie McClure,
Valerie Chavarria, Ricky Sheridan
Sons Justin, Curtis, and Daniel, nine
grandchildren, two nieces, nine nephews, and six
great nephews/nieces. |
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