Jeana Arlene (Vassar) Shaw

ABILENE: Jeana Arlene Shaw, 69, passed suddenly away on Monday, June 1, 2020 at her house in Abilene. A memorial will be held at 1:00pm, Friday June 5, 2020 at Hillcrest Church of Christ, directed by Fry~Smith Funeral Home, Tuscola. A visitation will be held on Thursday, June 4 from 5 to 7:00pm at the funeral home in Tuscola.

Jeana was born on September 8, 1950 to Leslie Gordon (L.G.) and Ruthie Lee (Brown) Vassar in Haskell. She graduated Salutatorian from Knox City in 1969, then attended ACU. She then graduated, with honors, from ACU with a degree in biology. Jeana went to work in the lab of Foremost Dairies. The job with Foremost was short lived and it gave her the encouragement to go back to school for her teaching certificate. She first taught at Abilene Christin Schools for her internship and as a teacher. This then led her to a 22 year career of teaching biology and physical science at Abilene High School. A job she genuinely loved. She was known to push her students to excel in class, teaching them more just biology, she taught them how to succeed in hard work.

She married Bill Shaw on August 11, 1973 after meeting him in the Haskell Church of Christ Youth group. It was a little later that her mother and mother-in-law realized that the two of them had known each other since early childhood. Jeana and Bill became inseparable in the marriage. They both where loyal Abilene High Eagles, it started with her work, then they became band parents and later traveled with the band, then as the band bus parent, and evolved into Jeana and Bill becoming EMTs for the band. They were one of the first in the state to travel with a band as EMTs, offering medical help to any band member, cheerleader, dance team, or fan during events and games.

She and Bill spent thirty-one years at Camp Blue Haven youth camp in New Mexico, Jeana as the camps nurse and Bill leading and teaching music.

Jeana enjoyed reading, singing, quilting, sewing, and animals. She loved to fish but was mainly crazy about her grandchildren. With each arrival of each grandchild they did become her life.

Jeana is survived by her husband Billy Bob “Bill” Shaw of Abilene; daughters Druann Thomas and husband Kendall of Baird, Shawna Bonham and husband Doug McGettes of Abilene; brother, Roger Vassar and wife Kathy of Wichita Falls; sisters, Brenda Frantz and husband Rocky of Perryton, Julie Fisher and husband Ty of Graham; grandchildren, Kennedy, Kensley, Alexander, Gracie and Merlyn “Bubba”. She is also survived by several incredibly special Abilene High students.

She was preceded in death by her parents L.G. and Ruthie Vasser.

In lieu of flowers donation can be made to Cancer Services Network, P.O. Box 2026, Abilene, Texas 79604.