Jay Shaw

Jay Douglas Shaw, 90, of Portland, Texas, passed away the evening of December 7, 2020 at Pavilion Assisted Living, where he has resided for two years since the death of his wife of 65 years, Joyce Shaw, in October 2018. He missed her dearly every single day and wanted only to be with her again.

Jay was born June 18, 1930 in Chester, PA, the 6th of 7 children to Ada Bernhardt and Charles L. Shaw. His father died when Jay was 11 years old, and he relied on his three older brothers for fatherly guidance.

Jay graduated Media High school in 1948, then enlisted and served in the U.S. Navy for four years, traveling aboard ship overseas, an experience he treasured for the exposure to other countries. He was honorably discharged in October, 1952.

On July 11, 1953 he married the love of his life, Joyce Karlson and they made their first home in Claymont, DE, having three children, then moved to Holly Oak Terrace. Jay built out the attic with two bedrooms and a bath, fixed everything that needed fixing, painted every wall whenever Joyce had an urge for a new color, planted vegetable gardens and trees and mowed the lawn thousands of times over the 16 years they lived there.

As a young husband, Jay had several jobs before joining Du Pont’s Chestnut Run division in 1956. Through the years, to support his growing family, he also held part-time jobs, including at a service station where in 1962, he suffered serious injuries when he was hit by a car. At the time, their fourth child was less than a year old.

Jay spent weeks in the hospital, several months with casts on both legs, followed by surgery, then more time recuperating, after which Joyce and Jay’s fifth child was born. Told he might never walk again, and definitely not without a brace on one leg, with the determination that defined his entire life, he proved them wrong and within a couple of years tossed the brace, resumed bowling and dancing with Joyce whenever they had the chance.

In 1976, he transferred to the Du Pont plant in Ingleside, TX and he, Joyce and their younger four children moved to a home on Marie Place in Portland, where he continued renovating, painting, building and fixing. He also successfully ran for Portland City Council and served two terms. When he retired from Du Pont in 1987, he started his own handyman business called The House Doctor and was in high demand.

Joyce and Jay’s greatest pleasure in retirement was taking off in one of a series of RV’s, visiting family and friends in other states, eventually hitting all but Alaska and Hawaii and logging 75,000 miles. One of their most frequent and favorite destinations was close to home, enjoying long weekends on Goose Island. From their first trip to their last, Jay chronicled each in a hardcover black journal that became part travelogue and part testimony to his love for his wife and their marriage. In his latter years, he enjoyed having visitors read entries aloud to him, which always brought a smile to his face and sometimes tears to his eyes.

In 1995, much to the surprise of their children, they moved to a 55+ community in Hot Springs, Arkansas. They knew no one, though thanks to Jay’s outgoing personality (and handyman skills) and Joyce’s formidable organizational skills, they soon became immersed in the life of that community. Jay was president of the Social Club and the POA Board, and Joyce managed all the calendars, lists, records

and events. They also volunteered at St. Joseph’s Hospital, where Jay installed Lifeline units and drove the golf cart to transport patients.

The highlight of their 13 years in Southwood was the successful surprise 50th Anniversary party their children threw for them in the clubhouse, with all their grandchildren and most of Southwood present.

In 2009, they moved back to Portland to be closer to their three Texas-based children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They both volunteered for the Salvation Army, and Jay indulged his love for his Navy days volunteering at the USS Lexington Aircraft Carrier.

When he suffered a debilitating stroke in 2013, their volunteer activities and travels were curtailed though not their weekly Saturday night dinners, or their drives around Portland, though Joyce took over the wheel. She cared for Jay until her unexpected death October 26, 2018, which irreparably broke Jay’s heart.

He moved into Pavilion Assisted Living, where he was loved and lovingly cared for by the devoted and wonderful staff led by executive director Chery Longwell. The family is immeasurably grateful to all.

Prior to his stroke, Jay loved to get behind the wheel and drive, putter around the house, read, study history, especially WWII, and, to his wife’s chagrin, carry on lengthy and random conversations with anyone whose path he crossed. His love of ice cream, Buc-ee’s Beaver Nuggets. DQ Blizzards, Snickers and homemade cookies was legendary, but nothing compared to his love for his wife.

In his two years at Pavilion, he made friends among residents, was beloved by staff, enjoyed visits from his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was checked on almost daily by daughter Carolyn, who we are immensely grateful was permitted to stay by his side in his final hours.

Jay was preceded in death by his wife Joyce Karlson Shaw; parents Ada and Charles Shaw; siblings John Shaw, Clara Shaw Marsh, Charles Shaw, Jr., Nancy Shaw McCarthy McAneny and William Shaw; and sister-in-law Donalyn Karlson Morris.

Jay is survived and will be missed by children Kay West of Asheville, NC; James (Terry) Shaw of Newark, DE; Carolyn (Ray Dean) French of Portland, TX; Linda O’Donnell of Richmond, TX; and Kenneth (Mary Catherine) Shaw of Buchanan Dam, TX; 11 grandchildren: Kristin Simmons, Holly Baker, Travis French and Jamie Moore of Portland; Doug O’Donnell of Fulshear, TX, Mandy O’Donnell of College Station, TX; Katie Shaw of Newark, DE: Joy West of Charlotte, NC and Harry West of Brooklyn, NY: Keller Shaw and Coby Shaw of Austin, TX; 13 great-grandchildren and his youngest sister Luise Gessller of Media, PA.

According to his wishes, Jay will be cremated and his ashes co-mingled with Joyce’s, to be disbursed by family members at a later date at a site they visited often.

In that way, they will be forever together as they both would want. As Jay wrote in his journal: “I so thoroughly enjoy being out here with Joyce. We can be and are so close on these trips. Just wonderful as always. How lucky we are.”