|
| |
Earnest Bernard Shaw
Bishop Funeral Home
October 30, 2014
Submitted by: Carol Spear Rice
Earnest Bernard Shaw, 88, of McAlester, died Tuesday, October 28th, 2014 in his home. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, November 1 at Frink Baptist Church with Rev. Clint Gray officiating. Interment will be at Oak Hill Cemetery with military honors provided by the Ft. Sill Honor Guard and Masonic rites performed by South McAlester Masonic Lodge # 96. Service arrangements are under the direction of Bishop Funeral Service. Born March 5, 1926 at Saw Mill Camp #4 in Montgomery County, Arkansas, 6 miles north east of Mt. Ida, Earnest was the second child of James Ivah and Jennette Ann (Pate) Shaw. He grew up in several locations in Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma. He left school in the 10th grade, in 1942, at Mt. Ida High school. After serving in the military service, he obtained a G.E.D., and in 1950 went to Durant Southeastern State College where he received 16 hours credit in business law. Earnest moved to Pittsburgh in 1942 with contractors Brown and Root from Corpus Christi, Texas. While living in Pittsburg, he met and later married Tommie Sue Baskin on March 2, 1944. He was drafted in to the U.S. Army on September 12, 1944 and received training at camp Joseph Robinson at Little Rock, Arkansas. He was sent to the Pacific Theatre of Operations in January of 1945. There he received special training, was sent to Saipan, then joined the New York 77th Infantry Division, and landed on Okinawa with 77th Army Unit. He was wounded near Chocolate Drop Hill on Okinawa. He was left behind enemy lines; managed to run, crawl, walk, ect. back to unit; and was taken to Navy Hospital #117 on Guam. He was hospitalized for 30 days and returned to Saipan for rehabilitation. He left Saipan after 45 days and rejoined the 77th Unit on Cebu and Leyte in the Philippines, and the unit went to Japan for Occupation. He returned to USA in early 1946 and honorably discharged from the Army as a Sergeant on April 11, 1946. His service medals include the Victory Ribbon, Philippine Liberation Medal, APT Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Meritorious Unit Award, Expert Rifleman Badge, and Purple Heart Ribbon. Earnest signed up for the Army Reserve on April 11, 1949, but failed the physical exam for the Korean War, and was honorably discharged in November 1950. From the marriage to Tommie Sue (Baskin) Shaw, three children were born: Dale Earnest Shaw, born February 23, 1945; Patti Jean Shaw, born June 19, 1947; and Terry Glenn Shaw, born July 18, 1948. After military service, Earnest went to work at the McAlester Naval Ammunition Depot in May, 1946. He was promoted to leading man carpenter in 1950. He accepted a new position in 1955 as a maintenance scheduler as a pilot project for the Navy. In 1967, he transferred to the Naval Air station on Adak Island of the Alaska Territories to set up a maintenance program for a naval station. Later, he transferred back to the Naval Ammunition Depot in McAlester. Earnest received numerous awards and served on many board of clubs and social activities. In July 1975, he transferred back to Adak until November 1977, but faced many medical problems whereupon he decided to retire from federal services. He was always active in charity activities and youth programs. Earnest was saved by Jesus Christ in December 1944 at a Baptist revival in Levy, Arkansas, and was baptized at a Southern Baptist Church in Saipan in early 1945. After military services, he was the Sunday School superintendent at the Pittsburg Baptist Church for 2 years. He moved from Pittsburg to McAlester in 1950 and assisted in establishing the Trinity Baptist Church, serving as Sunday School superintendent for 4 years and as a youth director for 2 years. During his life he helped scouting activities for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Explorer Scouts, as well as Girl Scouts. He served as president of the Toastmasters Club International at the Navy Ammunition Depot for 2 years, was a speech craft director for Oklahoma Toastmasters, and taught night classes at Vo-tech in McAlester. Honorable positions held by Earnest were becoming a Master Mason in 1953 in McAlester Masonic Lodge #9 and being a charter lodge member at Masonic Lodge #12 in Alaska. He was also a charter member at Masonic Lodge #550 in McAlester. Earnest was awarded a Lifetime Membership of Adak Lodge #12 at Wasilla-Iditarod #20. Other honors include being elected president of the Navy League for 2 years at Adak, Alaska and was a guest speaker for the Navy and Coast Guard of the Northwest where he spoke to 300 military officers and men in Kodiak, Alaska. Also, president for 2 years and a life time member of the Adak Masonic Square and Compass Club, which was formed by the military in 1943, the club services ended in 1976. Also, chairman of the Civilian Recreation Committee where he served for 4 years in the Chapter committee and as a speaker for children’s programs. Many honors and tributes were given to him for many other positions and activities in his life. Earnest was also the personal guide and escort for the honorable Ted Stevens of Alaska on his visits to the Island of Adak. In 1978, after retirement, Earnest and Tommie Sue had a new home built on High Hill Road, moving into it in 1979. He and his wife started a neighborhood watch in 1985, leading to the making of High Hill Volunteer Fire Department, which has grown tremendously. The County Commissioner named Shaw Road in High Hill in honor of Earnest’s achievements. Earnest loved hunting, camping, fishing, and all youth programs and sports. He was a member of High Hill Baptist Church, a 32nd Degree Mason, and a Shrine member since 1977. On February 14, 2003, he and JoAnn Tiemann were married at the High Hill Baptist Church. They moved to McAlester in 2005. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, his wife of over 56 years, his son: Dale Earnest Shaw, and his brother: James Henry Shaw. Survivors include his wife, JoAnn Shaw and grandson: Gavin King-Justice of the home; daughter: Patti McCullar of McAlester; son: Dr. Terry Shaw and wife, Donna of High Hill; step-sons: Larry Tiemann and wife, Melissa of Durant, Bobby Justice, Sr. and wife, Sarah of Stuart; daughter-in-law: Karen Shaw of Mustang; sisters: Mary Francis Turney of Peaceable, Millie Fay of Tunis, Tunisia; brother: Dewey T. Shaw and wife, Helen of Athens, Texas. Also, grandchildren: Kimberly Crowder, Kelli Nowlin, Kyle Urrutia, Kara McCullar, Stacy Brown, Vicki Davenport, Erin Shaw, Parker Shaw, Cady Shaw, Elizabeth Justice, Bobby Justice, Jr., Melanie Clark, Dewayne Justice, Samantha Lott, Gerald Justice, Shay Tiemann, Eric Justice, Constince Justice, Kaelie Tiemann, Aydan Justice, and Avery Justice; 31 wonderful great-grandkids; and lots of nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, and numerous friends. Pallbearers will be members of the High Hill Volunteer Fire Department. Honorary pallbearers will be Kyle Urrutia, Parker Shaw, Bobby Justice, Jr. Dewayne Justice, Gerald Justice, and Eric Justice.
Oakhill Cemetery Page| |Pittsburg County Cemetery Page| |Home| This site may be freely linked, but not duplicated in any way without consent.
All rights reserved! Commercial use of material within this site is prohibited!
© 2000-2024 Oklahoma CemeteriesThe information on this site is provided free for the purpose of researching your genealogy. This material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, for your own research, as long as this message remains on all copied material. The information contained in this site may not be copied to any other site without written "snail-mail" permission. If you wish to have a copy of a donor's material, you must have their permission. All information found on these pages is under copyright of Oklahoma Cemeteries. This is to protect any and all information donated. The original submitter or source of the information will retain their copyright. Unless otherwise stated, any donated material is given to Oklahoma Cemeteries to make it available online. This material will always be available at no cost, it will always remain free to the researcher.