Catherine Shields

1922 - 2022

Catherine Shields
December 10, 1922 - October 18, 2022
Clovis, California - Catherine Bernice (nee Clark) Shields passed away on October 18, 2022 of natural causes. She celebrated her 99th birthday in December, 2021. She was a descendant of California pioneers who arrived in the 1850's, and chose to reside in central California with close-knit family ties.
Bernice was raised in a traditional, genteel family, and lived her entire life as a gentlewoman. She loved reading and corresponding, and encouraged these skills all of the family members and friends, as leader of "book clubs" and as a loving grandparent. Amanda Shields Schweizer remembered her this way: "Today we lost my Grandma, Bernice. She was a loving, strong, and elegantly rugged woman who always put her family first. She taught me the phrase, 'That's nice, Dear' while listening to me excitedly recap my latest adventures as a child. She used the phrase often. I now understand how lovingly patient she was."
Bernice and Allan Edwin Shields met as students at the University of California, Berkeley and were married in Merced. They celebrated their 76th wedding anniversary on August 2, 2017 in Fresno.
Allan and Bernice lived in San Diego from 1949 to 1978, when they moved to Mariposa County to enjoy mountain living. They founded the Jerseydale Ranch Press and honored the family community. Bernice was the calm, caring voice that insured Jerseydale Ranch remained a favorite gathering place with fond memories for our entire extended family.
Bernice was proceeded in death by Allan and by their son, Larry Michael Shields. She is survived by their sons Allan Oakley Shields and Richard Minter Shields; and daughter Catherine Marie (nee Shields) Jason, and numerous descendants including great-great-grandchildren.
A private service is planned. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Yosemite Conservancy.