Myo Arlaine Shears, age 86, passed away peacefully on April 21, 2024, in Mount Vernon, Washington. Myo was born on April 17, 1938, at Burlington General Hospital, Burlington, Washington to Charles & Marion Pickens. Myo attended school in Mt. Vernon and graduated from Mt. Vernon High School in 1956.
She knew from the time she was a small child she wanted to be a nurse and attended St. Joseph Nursing School in Bellingham, WA. There she met her lifelong friends, moving to Seattle with them to work at Doctor’s Hospital (now Swedish) where she worked in Labor & Delivery.
While working in Seattle she ran into a childhood friend, Bill Shears, and the two were married a year later on April 8, 1961. They moved to Bothell, built a house together and had two children: Amanda and Cory.
They enjoyed boating and on a trip in the 70’s they discovered the Shelter Bay marina in La Conner. They moved to La Conner and built the home that they would live in for 40 years.
Myo transitioned to working in private practice OB/GYN and enjoyed many years working in Mt. Vernon. Myo’s favorite saying was ‘once a nurse, always a nurse.’
Myo and Bill traveled the world extensively: England, Thailand, Ireland, Scotland, Turkey, New Zealand, Africa were some of their favorites, as well as spending time in their condo in Puerta Vallarta, Mexico.
Myo and Bill loved boating in Puget Sound- from South Sound, San Juan Islands and Canadian Gulf Islands to further north into Desolation. They shared their love and adventures with many lucky friends and family members aboard their beautiful Shear Joy(s) and Shear Delite.
An avid sewist, quilter, knitter and more, Myo always had a beautiful project she was working on and looking for the next one. Myo was active in Rainbow girls in her youth and the Daughters of the American Revolution as an adult. She was The Ann Washington Chapter’s Regent (twice) as well as Registrar for several years.
Myo is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 58 years, Bill. She is survived by her daughter, Amanda Petrash; son, Cory (Jen) Shears; granddaughter, Hadley; brother, Bill (Cindy) Pickens. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Ken (JoAnn) Shears, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the NOAH Center for animals in Stanwood.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, May 2, 2024, at 11:00am at Hawthorne Funeral Home, Mount Vernon, WA with a reception to follow.
Please visit www.hawthornefh.com to share your thoughts and memories and sign the online guest register.
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