Barbara Shearer

Barbara Jean Smith Shearer, 91, of Washington died Friday, October 8, at the Washington County Hospital following complications from a stroke. Celebration of life services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, October 17, at the United Methodist Church in Washington with Rev. Julie Poulsen officiating. The family will receive friends following the service at a dinner in the church fellowship hall. Her body has been donated to the University of Iowa College of Medicine. Interment will be at the Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington at a later date. Memorials have been established to Arbor House at Halcyon House, Washington, and Camp Reece. Memorials in Barbara’s name can be sent care of Jones - Eden Funeral Home, 116 East Main, Washington 52353. Online condolences may be sent for Barbara’s family through the web at www.jonesfh.com. Barbara was born on March 21, 1919 in Des Moines, Iowa, the daughter of Albert Arthur (A.A.) and Bertha Viola (McGrath) Smith. She grew up in Ames, Iowa where she graduated from high school in 1937. Barbara graduated from Iowa State College (Ames) in 1941 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology. She attended graduate school at the State University of Iowa for one year. She married Paul V. Shearer of Columbus Junction, Iowa on June 11, 1943 in Ames. Barbara was a homemaker, a teacher, and worked for a law firm in Minneapolis for three years. She later assisted her husband as he set up his law practice in Washington. Barbara was an active member of the United Methodist Church in Washington, and was known for her warm hospitality, positive outlook and enthusiasm for life. She taught Sunday school for almost 60 years and served on numerous church committees. She served on the Wesleyan Service Guild as treasurer, Women’s Society of Christian Service and Burlington District WSCS Board, where she served as secretary of youth work. Barbara served on the initial Halcyon House Board and the Halcyon House Guild since its beginning in the mid 1960’s. During the 1990s and until recently, Barbara was a resident advocate at Halcyon House for the Iowa Department of Elder Affairs. She was involved in the Young Women’s Christian Association and is a past YMCA President. Some of her other organizations include Recreational Council of Washington, Democratic Women’s Club, Community Chest of Washington (founding executive secretary), Fortnightly, Gray Lady, Washington County Historical Society, Cub Scouts and Blue Bird leader, Friends of the United Nations, Washington city and county election boards, Iowa State University Alumni, Citizen’s Advisory Board, TTT Chapters Y and EI, Delta Zeta Sorority, and Washington Mother of the Year in 1973. Barbara is survived by her son, Mark Smith Shearer and wife Tatiana of Clive, Iowa; daughter, Jane Megan Moon and husband Mike of Colorado Springs, Colorado; six grandchildren: Amy Shearer of Bentonville, Arkansas, Chad Shearer and wife Jennifer of Ewing, New Jersey, Shawn Shearer of Indio, California, Megan (Moon) and Matt Long of Denver, Colorado, Ryan Moon of Eugene, Oregon, and Kristen Moon of Colorado Springs; two great grandchildren: Wyatt Singleton of Bentonville, and Mallory Long of Denver; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Paul in 1995; her brother and sister-in-law, Maurice and Martha Smith of St. Cloud, Minnesota; two brothers-in-law: Woodrow and wife Adelaide Shearer, and William Shearer of Columbus Junction; and one sister-in-law, Marine and husband Max Robertson of Letts, Iowa.

Barbara Shearer

March 21, 1919 - October 8, 2010