Vesta Jean Shields

SHIELDS Vesta Jean (nee Newman), age 92, was born in a farmhouse near Pleasant Plain, Clermont County, Ohio, September 1, 1924, the daughter and the eighth of 15 children of Frank and Emma Locke Newman. She passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones Tuesday, November 22, 2016, at Eastgate Carespring Health Care Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Jean attended Fayetteville, Ohio, schools where she excelled in academics, ran track and was a cheerleader. Following the attacks on Pearl Harbor, she married Clifford “Tody” Shields on December 23, 1941, in Columbia, SC. Jean returned to Ohio where she graduated salutatorian of the Fayetteville class of 1942. In January, 1950, Jean and Tody opened Shields Jewelers in Williamsburg, Ohio, where they were the owners/operators of the jewelry store for 48 years until December, 1998. Jean was an outstanding business woman who excelled in sales and was known regionally for her professionally wrapped gift packages with the gorgeous handmade bows, beautiful window displays and decorations at the jewelry store. And she was especially known, loved and well-respected for her caring, loving and detailed attention to their customers. Jean was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church. She was an excellent cook who loved to entertain, an avid and passionate gardener, having received the award “Gardener of the Year” from the Williamsburg Garden Club for her beautifully and meticulously landscaped yard at her residence on North Front Street. In the 1950s, Jean also raised and sold vegetables and flowers along the roadside near Fayetteville. She was also very active in the community at large being a past Worthy Matron in the International Order of Eastern Star, Mother Advisor in the International Order of Rainbow Girls, member of the Williamsburg Garden Club, bible school teacher, tutored students after school at Williamsburg Elementary and a Brownie and Girl Scout troop leader. Jean also dearly enjoyed spending time with her family. In her free time, she loved perusing antique stores and yard sales to add to her beloved collections and feeding and watching the birds and butterflies who visited her welcoming bird feeders and yard. She also cared for and fed any stray cat or dog who would be fortunate enough to choose her front stoop for a visit or to choose to live with her. Jean was a 65-year resident of Williamsburg, OH, and she and Tody had also resided in Dawson Springs, KY, Kalamazoo, MI, Peoria, IL and Fayetteville, OH. Vesta Jean was a loving and gracious wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and cousin dedicated to her dear family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 55 years, Tody, fourteen siblings, Virgil, Velma, Viola Nicley, Vera Evans, Vance, Vivian Shields, Veda, Verna, Vernon, the triplets Victor, Vincent and Vaughn, Veston and Van Harold. Jean is survived by her daughter, Julie Elaine (Timothy) Carter, one grandchild, Timothy Michael Carter and numerous cherished relatives and friends. In lieu of flowers, Vesta Jean’s wishes are to have memorials given to Williamsburg Community Mission, 330 Gay Street, Williamsburg, OH 45176, City Gospel Mission of Cincinnati, Neediest Kids of All, Ruth Lyons Children’s Fund or the charity of your choice. Services will be held at the Maham Funeral Home, 187 North Second Street, Williamsburg, Ohio on Tuesday, November 29, 2016 at 1pm. Visitation will be from 12 noon until the time of the service at the funeral home. Vesta Jean’s final resting place will be with her husband Clifford “Tody” at the Williamsburg Cemetery.