John Shea

Family-Placed Death Notice

SHEA, John JOHN JOSEPH SHEA John Joseph Shea, 80, died April 11, 2008 at his in Atlanta, GA. He is survived by his wife, Shirley W. Shea of 56 years; his sons, Mike Shea (wife Laura), Thomasville, GA, Mark Shea (wife, Susan) Norcross, GA, Jeff Shea, David Shea, and Pat Shea and daughter, Nancy Shea all of Atlanta. He also leaves his seven loving grandchildren: Stephen, Haven, Cecile, Allyson, Staci, Mitchell, and Ella. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, his father and mother, (John Joseph and Octavia Gage) moved to Miami, Florida in 1928 where John was raised with his twin sister Evelyn. He attended Miami High where he was a varsity football notable. In 1945 John Shea was enlisted in the Army and was trained as a paratrooper at Fort Benning, Georgia. At the end of WWII, John was honorably discharged from the service in 1946 and attended the University of Tennessee where he played football, was a member of Sigma Alfa Epsilon and majored in chemistry until 1949. In 1951 while working at the Oak Ridge nuclear facility, he met and married his wife, Shirley Walker. A born salesman, John began his career selling cutlery door to door. His wife Shirley, who was an accomplished surgical nurse, accepted a position in Atlanta and the couple moved in 1953. In Atlanta, Mr. Shea joined W. R. Bean printing Co. as a salesman. In 1960 Mr. Shea started his own print sales company then known as Shea/Rustin, which ultimately became Shea and Company. John was an avid golfer known and loved by many for his energetic pursuit of the game. He was generous with his time and dedication to many charities. John was Past Chairman of the Paul Anderson Youth Home, past President and a Founding Member of the Atlanta Golf Classic and Founder of the Shepherd Spinal Center Charity Golf Tournament. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in honor of Mr. Shea to the Paul Anderson Youth Home, 1603 McIntosh St., Vidalia, GA 30474 or the ALS Foundation of Georgia. The family will receive friends Monday April 14, 2008 5-7PM at Peach-tree Golf Club, 4600 Peachtree Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30319. Memorial service will be Tuesday, April 15, 2008, 11AM at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, 3081 Peachtree Rd., NE, Atlanta, GA 30305, with Dr. Donald A. Harp officiating. Arrangements by H.M. Patterson & Son Oglethorpe, 4550 Peachtree Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30319, 404- 261-3510.