Beryl Lucille Shea

Beryl Lucille Shea was born in Sargent, Nebraska on November 17, 1918, the daughter of John and Mercury E. (Sutton) Franklin. The family moved to Creston when Beryl was a young girl and she attended Creston Schools, graduating from Creston High School with the Class of 1936.  Following graduation, Beryl worked a short time as a Legal Secretary. On February 23, 1938, Beryl was united in marriage to Paul James Shea at St. Malachy Catholic Church in Creston. Three children were born to bless this union: Paul, Richard and Kathryn.
Beryl was a devoted wife and mother and worked as a homemaker and housewife while her husband worked for Western Union. The family moved several times and lived in both Iowa and Nebraska. Upon her husband’s retirement, Beryl and Paul returned to live in Creston until Paul’s death in 1998. A short time later, Beryl moved to Washington to be closer to Kathryn and resided there the last 12 years. While she was able, Beryl was a talented seamstress, making and selling clothes for Barbie Dolls and made most of the clothes her children wore. She was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church while in Creston and received a Certificate of Support from Pope Benedict, XVI, following 25 years of support for the Benedictine Mission House in Schuyler, Nebraska.
Beryl was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Paul James in 1998; her son, Richard James in 1986; by a sister, Isabelle Myers and a brother, John, who was killed in action during WWII, in 1944.
Beryl is survived by her son, Paul (wife Norma) Shea of Crossville, Tennessee; her daughter, Kathryn Shea of Davenport, Washington; 3 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-granddaughters; her sister, Elizabeth Stegar of Salem, Oregon; 2 brothers: Fran Franklin of Corvallis, Oregon and George Franklin of Alabama. May God grant comfort and strength to those who mourn.