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Yearl Keith ‘Art’ Shaw

Yearl Keith “Art” Shaw was born on June 14, 1922, in Brooken. He was the third child, third son of 10 children born to Charlie and Minnie Boyd Shaw. He entered his eternal home on July 19, 2017, in Tulsa, at the age of 95 years.
His early years were spent in elementary school and working on the family farm.
He was drafted into the Army on Nov. 1, 1942, and served his country for three years, four months,  17 days and was honorably discharged on March 17, 1946. Most of that time was spent on the front lines as a combat infantryman in Rhineland Central Europe, marching more than 1,000 miles across France and Germany. He was a top marksman as well as section leader of a machine gun squad which resulted in profound hearing loss in later years.
On Nov. 14, 1949, he married the love of his life, Norma Lee Ledbetter. They met at a Christmas party where he introduced himself as “Artie Shaw,” a famous big band leader at the time. She had arrived with one beau, but “Art” took her home and he was known as “Art” to all their family and friends from that time forward. Their union produced two children – Sheila Lynn Shaw Jackson and Dennis Keith Shaw. She preceded him in death on Sept. 26, 1993, after 43 years of marriage.
Also preceding him in death were his parents and siblings, Oscar Shaw, Allen “Mutt” Shaw, Freda Shaw Chunning, Herman “Judge” Shaw, Charles “Top” Shaw and Huey “Chuck” Shaw.
He is survived by his children, Sheila Jackson and husband, Fred; Dennis Shaw and wife, Sue and stepchildren; grandson Keith Hester and wife, Erika, and great-grandson, Jaxon Keith Hester. He is also survived by sisters, Christine Shaw Coffman, Gladys Shaw Bender, Shirley Shaw Bender and husband Earl and many other in-laws and extended family as well as his church family at Whitefield Baptist Church and a host of friends.
Other than his love for his Lord and his church, Art will best be remembered for his love of gardening, growing a huge garden every year until he moved to Tulsa to be nearer his children and sisters.
He’ll also be remembered for always have “Smarties” candies in his pocket to pass out at church every Sunday.
His was a life well-lived for 95 years and our loss is Heaven’s gain.
Services were held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 22, 2017, at Whitefield Baptist Church with the Rev. Tommie Parker officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Mallory Martin Funeral Home & Crematory.
Interment immediately followed at Whitefield Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Kelly Stout, Johnny Bray, Mark Rivenbark, Brad Martin, Billy Cleveland and Steve Orman.
Honorary pallbearer was Charles Don Robertson.

Stigler News-Sentinel

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