Person Page - 669

     Malcolm was born on 18 May 1918 at Madison, Florida, United States.¹ He was the son of Lester Shea and Nettie Mamie G. Brannen. Malcolm died on 25 November 1999 at Gainesville, Alachua, Florida, United States, at age 81.
     Biography of Malcolm Lester Shea:
FIRST SON AND CHILD OF LESTER SHEA AND NETTIE MAE BRANNEN

     Malcolm Lester (M.L.) grew up in Shady Grove, Florida. When the family moved, he attended school and High School in Greenville, Florida. He graduated and attended the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. He majored in agriculture; however, while attending college he worked with Joe Peters Glass Company. While living in Gainesville, he met and married Catherine Ledbetter. They had one son, Malcolm (Mac) about 1944, later they had one other son, Mike..

     During World War II, M. L. was in the Army Air Corps. He was in the same unit as Clark Gable. He was not injured during the war. When he returned home, he went back to work for Mr. Peters.

     Mr. Peters had one son, Joe. He was killed in a jeep wreck while taking M. L.'s brother, Bill, and sister, Jimmie, for a ride. Mr. Peters was distraught and took M. L. under his wing as his son. When Mr. Peters died, M. L. acquired Peters Glass Company and became extremely prosperous. After acquiring Peters Glass Company, he changed the name to Shea Glass Company. He began to invest in real estate and became very wealthy. He and Catherine build a lovely home and he raised camellias and orchids as a hobby and for some profit. He also grafted plants and attended flower shows.

     During mid-life, Catherine became pregnant and had another son, Mike. This was a surprise.

     After the children were grown, M. L. and Catherine were divorced. He then married Beverly Reks who owned and operated a billing and mailing company. She had one son by a previous marriage.

     M. L. had a stroke about 1990. He was disabled. However, Beverly hired a male nurse to assist him and take him about.

     M. L. died Thanksgiving Day November 25, 1999. The following is his obituary:

     MELROSE - Malcolm Lester "M. L." "Red" Shea of Gainesville, retired owner and operator of longtime Gainesville business, Shea's Glass Co., died Thursday in Melrose. He was 82.

     Mr. Shea was born in Greenville and moved from Gainesville to Melrose 12 years ago. He bought Shea's Glass Co. more than 60 years ago.

     He was a member of the Gainesville Elks Lodge and the Disabled Veterans of America Chapter 107 in Gainesville. He was a former member of the Jaycees, Kiwanis Club, Optimist Club, Gainesville Orchid Society, and was a judge and founding member of the Camellia Society.

     "When he had a hobby, he didn't mess around," said his wife, Beverly She. "He was a very generous, giving and loving person. I don't think he was every unhappy, even when he was sick."

     Survivors include his wife, Beverly Shea of Melrose, three sons, M.L. "Mac" Shea, Jr. and Robert M. "Mike" Shea, both of Gainesville, and Franklin S. King of Melrose; four sisters, Del Ray Miller of Madison, Jimmie Roberts of Cherry Lake, Inez Pridgen of Valdosta, GA and Mary Lou White of Jacksonville, AL; three brothers, George W. "Bill" Shea of Greenville, and Thomas N. Shea and Glenn Shea, both of Quitman, GA, and two grandsons. [Mary Shea White]

     Oswald was born in September 1920 at Madison, Florida, United States.¹ He was the son of Lester Shea and Nettie Mamie G. Brannen. He married Mary Catherine Sofchek, at Washington, District of Columbia, United States.¹ Oswald died on 22 January 1988 at Jacksonville, North Carolina, United States, at age 67.
     Biography of Oswald Paul Shea:
SECOND SON AND CHILD OF LESTER SHEA AND NETTIE MAE SHEA

Oswald Paul Shea nicknamed "Mutt" was a feisty red haired boy. He grew up in the Shady Grove area of Florida. Later Lester and Nettie moved to a farm in Greenville. He attended Greenville High School, but did not graduate. He joined the Marine Corps when the World War II started and fought mostly in the Phillipine Islands. He was shot in the legs and spent a long time recuperating in a government hospital. After World War II ended, Mutt continued to have nightmares about being shot. One nightmare was that he was in the water and his legs were gone.

Following the World War II, Mutt was stationed in Virginia. While stationed there, he met Mary Sofchek, who worked in Washington, D.C. Mary was from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Of Yugoslavian descendent, Mary was a beautiful woman. While in her late teens, Mary had gone to sleep for six months and could not be roused. In fact, a priest was administering the last rites when she woke up. Consequently, she had been referred to as the ''sleeping beauty."

After their marriage, Mary was required to stop working with the federal government and accompany her husband to various locations. They had six children: 5 girls and one boy. The sleeping problem occurred again after the birth of their last child, Mary Ellen. This time the problem was diagnosed as a brain tumor and the tumor was removed.

Mutt continued to advance in the Marine Corp in the enlisted ranks. He was sent to Korea and to Vietnam during those conflicts. Finally, he became a Command Sergeant Major at Jacksonville Marine Corps Station, Jacksonville, North Carolina. Unfortunately, his service in many conflicts led to a drinking problem for Mutt. While he was full of life and a great entertainer, to include tap dancing, as in many cases, he was not pleasant when drinking.

After his retirement and when their children were grown, Mary left Mutt and went to live with one of her daughters. He continued to live at his home and raised produce which he sold to the Commissary at Jacksonville until his death of a heart attack in 1988, just six months before the death of his mother.

On the day he passed away, his sister, Delray was visiting. She had come to stay with him a few days as he had been in the hospital with a heart problem and had just come home. In his usual jolly manner, he told her to make some banana pudding--he was going to take a nap and he would eat it when he woke up. So saying, he tap danced down the hall and went to sleep. Later she went to wake him, but he had died in his sleep.

     Del was born on 25 March 1923 at Shady Grove, Madison, Florida, United States.¹ She was the daughter of Lester Shea and Nettie Mamie G. Brannen. She married Adwell Fender, circa 1940.¹
     Biography of Del Ray Shea:
THIRD CHILD AND FIRST DAUGHTER OF LESTER SHEA AND NETTIE M. BRANNEN



     Delray was the first daughter of Lester and Nettie. She was a precocious child with red curly hair and brown eyes. Her earlier years were spent in Shady Grove, Florida; but, later the family moved to the farm in Greenville, Florida. Del Ray attended school in Greenville but did not graduate. (At the age of 55 Del Ray realized she wanted to get her diploma and studied for and passed her GED.) After she left school, she went to the work at the mental institution in Chattahoochee, Florida as a nurses aide. While working there, she met and married Adwell Fender. This marriage did not work out and lasted on two months. Del Ray returned to her parents home and soon baby, Anne Deloris, was born.

     After a short time, Del Ray met and married Ford G. (Jack) Miller, who was a cook in the Air Force. At first they were stationed in South Carolina, then were sent to Albuerquque, New Mexico. Del Ray had severe allergies and the climate in New Mexico did not agree with her. Consequently, they were sent to England for an overseas tour. When they returned to the United States, they were assigned to Warner Robbins AFB near Macon, Georgia. Soon thereafter, Jack retired from the Air Force. For a short while, he worked as a police man in Greenville, Florida. Then, he became employed by the Raiford Prison System, Raiford, Florida. During this time, they had three children, Paul, Ray and Jack.

     Big Jack eventually retired totally. He and Delray lived in a house built on an acre of land deeded to them by her father. This house burned and they moved to the city limits of Greenville. For a while they lived in Monticello, Florida and then moved back to Greenville. They were still living in Greenville when Big Jack passed away.

     Del Ray was an excellent seamstress and could crochet beautiful afghans, table clothes, and do other lovely needlework. Sometimes, she did this for profit. She worked at various times for a convenience store and as a nurse with older people. After Jack's death, she met Edward Pierce and they remain companions. [Mary Shea White]

     Joseph was born circa 1924 at Shady Grove, Madison, Florida, United States.¹ He was the son of Lester Shea and Nettie Mamie G. Brannen. Joseph died circa 1924 at Shady Grove, Madison, Florida, United States.
     Biography of Joseph Shea:
Joseph died within the first year of his life.

     George was born on 24 July 1925 at Greenville, Madison, Florida, United States.¹ He was the son of Lester Shea and Nettie Mamie G. Brannen. He married Minnie Elam Sapp, on 24 July 1953 at Greenville, Madison, Florida, United States.¹
     Biography of George Wilbur Shea:
FOURTH SON AND FIFTH CHILD OF LESTER SHEA AND NETTIE MAE BRANNEN

     George Wilbur was named after Nettie's brother, George. He was born prematurely and only weighed about 2 1/2 pounds. He attended school in Greenville, Florida. When the war came, Bill joined the US Navy. While in the navy he met and married Margie Tadlock from Providence, Rhode Island. He brought her to live with his parents in Greenville, but the cultural difference were insurmountable, and while Bill was away at sea, she left. They soon divorced.

     Shortly, after his return from the war, Bill and his sister, Jimmie, went to visit their older brother, M.L. in Gainesville. While visiting they went for a ride in a jeep with M.L.'s bosses son, Young Joe Peters. A car backed out in front of the jeep and there was no way to avoid it. Young Joe was killed, Jimmie was badly hurt and Bill, too.

     Bill worked for a while as a logger. He and a neighbor, Jim Tom Bush, were out on the back forty of the farm cutting trees, when a tree fell on Bill. He was pinned underneath for almost an hour, before help could be summoned to move the tree. He survived, but it took a number of weeks before he recovered.

     His father deeded him 25 acres of land and helped him build a house. He met and married Elam Sapp from Perry, Florida. She was the secretary to the Taylor County Judge, Byron Butler. Bill farmed and went to work at Buckeye. They had two children: a boy, Lester (Lex), and a daughter, Sharon.

     Bill like to farm and was a good trader. They moved to Shady Grove, Florida where they built a larger home. This was closer to their work in Perry.

     After the death of his father, Lester, Bill bought the family farm and built a lovely two story colonial home. Unfortunately, the home burned and was not insured. He moved back to Taylor County. He and his son, Lex, continued to farm on a large scale and he continued to work. So did Elam.

     They continue to live in Shady Grove, Florida, near the home place where his mother was raised. [Mary Shea White]

     Jack was born circa 1927 at Shady Grove, Madison, Florida, United States.¹ He was the son of Lester Shea and Nettie Mamie G. Brannen. Jack died circa 1927 at Shady Grove, Madison, Florida, United States.
     Biography of Jack Shea:
Jack died as a child.

     Jimmie was born on 22 February 1929 at Greenville, Madison, Florida, United States.¹ She was the daughter of Lester Shea and Nettie Mamie G. Brannen. She married Holly Edgar Roberts.¹
     Biography of Jimmie Wilma Shea:
SEVENTH CHILD AND SECOND DAUGHTER OF LESTER SHEA AND NETTIE MAE BRANNEN

     Jimmie attended school at Greenville. She did not graduate but went to work. She married Holly Edgar Roberts from Aucilla, Florida. and they moved to Fernandina Beach, Florida where he was a watch repairer. Eventually they returned to Greenville, Florida, and her father, Lester, gave them an acre of land and assisted with the building of a house. Holly worked at Madison Metal Products in Madison, Florida as a tool and die maker. Jimmie worked at a furniture company in Madison.

     Soon they bought some land and moved to Cherry Lake, Florida. They had one daughter, Holly Elizabeth and one son, Thomas (Tommy). When Tommy was six years old, a car struck him as he was crossing the road and he died as a result of his injuries. Holly and Jimmie were distraught, but, they soon they adopted another boy, Timothy.

     Holly had polio when he was a child and as a result he had a hunch back; however, he was still an extremely handsome man. He was also kind and gentle--almost too kind and gentle for this world. At the age of 46, he contacted pneumonia and died as his lungs were not strong due to the damage from polio.

     Jimmie then worked for a peach company for a number of years. About 1977, she decided to go to school and take a nursing course. After completing this course, she went to work as a nurse to Holly's cousin, Sidney, who had been disabled in a truck/car accident, which had left him first in a coma and after the coma, mentally disabled. [Mary Shea White]

     Fred was born circa 1935.¹ He was the son of Lester Shea and Nettie Mamie G. Brannen. Fred died circa 1935 at Greenville, Madison, Florida, United States.

     Mary was born on 15 December 1917 at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. She married Oswald Paul Shea, son of Lester Shea and Nettie Mamie G. Brannen, at Washington, District of Columbia, United States.¹

     Adwell was born on 1 May 1917 at Georgia, United States. He married Del Ray Shea, daughter of Lester Shea and Nettie Mamie G. Brannen, circa 1940.¹ Adwell died on 13 May 1992 at age 75.

     Ford was born on 18 July 1907 at Boone, North Carolina, United States.¹ He married Del Ray Shea, daughter of Lester Shea and Nettie Mamie G. Brannen, circa 1943 at Fort Myers, Lee, Florida, United States. Ford died in August 1975 at Greenville, Madison, Florida, United States, at age 68.