Linda May Shear, age 72, of the LaBelle Manor Nursing Home, died on Tuesday, April 11, 2017 in Blessing Hospital. Linda was the second of eight children of Charles William Shear and Mary Elizabeth (Miller) Shear. (She was the first daughter in the family). Her family members included three brothers and four sisters as well as their families. Her siblings were: James Shear of La Belle, MO, Loretta Barrett of Quincy, IL, Gary Shear and wife Vivian of Quincy, IL, Teddy Shear of Maywood, Mo, Brenda De Bow of Cedar Rapids, IA, Diana Shear of Lewistown, Mo, and Donna Boling of Durham, Mo. Linda’s parents preceded her in death.
Linda helped care for her younger siblings as she was growing up as well as doing many other jobs in the family’s home and on their rural farm including: cutting hay with a sickle and then stacking it on a wagon with a pitchfork, helping her mother wash clothes by hand and then hanging them on a clothesline to dry, carrying water in a two-gallon bucket from a nearby spring for the family to drink, and splitting wood with an ax before carrying it into the house.
Linda graduated from La Grange (MO) High School. She was offered a scholarship to attend Blessing School of Nursing to become a nurse but she was not able to achieve that dream. Instead, she was the recipient of the care of nurses throughout her lifetime.
Linda lived in a variety of homes throughout her lifetime but lived in La Belle Manor Nursing Home the last 20 years of it. Linda enjoyed participating in the various activities the nursing home offered including: Bingo, special outing trips, shopping, and Special Olympics. Because of her enthusiasm for the various activities, her cheerful smiles, and her thoughtful caring way she was a favorite resident with the other residents as well as the nursing home staff.
Linda had a card ministry while she was at the nursing home. She sent birthday, anniversary, sympathy, Easter, St. Patrick’s, Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas cards to people she knew. This included family, the nursing home staff, and other residents as well as each of their families. She wrote down their birthdays and anniversaries and then sent each of them a card to celebrate their special day. To further brighten each person’s special day she put stickers on their envelopes and inside their cards.
Linda even sent cards to people she didn’t know. She read the local newspaper’s obituaries and social announcements. Then she sent cards to people who had made announcements of their anniversaries or to families that had lost loved ones. She put a Bible verse inside each card she sent to not only share her faith in God but to also encourage the recipient in their faith.
Although Linda was welcomed into Heaven, she will be missed by all that knew her and by the recipients of her card ministry.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 15, 2017 at 10:00 AM in the Duker & Haugh Funeral Home by Rev. Manuel Shoults. Interment in Dover Cemetery, Dover, MO. Visitation will be held on Saturday morning at the Duker & Haugh Funeral Home from 9:00 AM until the time of the services at 10:00.