Nancy Kay Shear

Nancy Kay Shear (nee Harpin), 78, of Phoenix, Arizona, passed away on November 24, 2021. Nancy was born in Kankakee, Illinois, September 6, 1943 to the late Vera and Eugene Harpin. She went to Saint Joseph Seminary Catholic High school for girls. When she turned 17, she met her Richard. Their first date was a blind date to a powder puff football game to watch Richard’s sister Tanya play football. Little did we know then that was the beginning of relationship that would last sixty-two years! Nancy and Richard were married November 30th, 1962, in Fort Benning Georgia, when Richard returned from Korea. They took their wedding vows very seriously. All four children Joanne, Rhonda, James and Rick were born in the 60’s while Richard worked on the Pennsylvania railroad as a clerk and later a Yardmaster. When Richard started going to the University of Illinois while working on the railroad full time, Nancy was the loving mother, and center of the family for the next five years. Yet, she also found time to volunteer at the local hospital as a nursing assistant. This love for helping people was a constant thread throughout her life. On Christmas day 1978 the family moved to Phoenix, Arizona to enable Richard to continue his life’s work as a computer engineer at Automatic Electric. She marveled at the warm climate and joined Richard in jumping in the hotel pool in Phoenix, then calling back to frigid Kankakee to mention, “Hey we just got out of the pool!” In 1984, her first granddaughter Becky was born (1st of eleven). She began practicing that special something that made each grandchild feel loved and special. At the Celebration of Nancy’s life, grandchildren told stories of how she had figured out what was special for them and about them, and used that to enrich their lives with words, acts and sometimes gifts. She will long be remembered as the center of a large and loving family and provider of that special something that enriched everyone’s life. She had a successful life because she made the world a little bit better. Nancy was survived by her husband of 59 years, Richard Shear, children: Joanne Shear (spouse Greg Petersen), Rhonda Lake (spouse David Lake), Jim Shear (spouse Vicky Shear), Rick Shear (spouse Roxanne Shear), grandchildren: Rebecca Anderson, David Lake ll, Danielle Payne, Kristopher Lake, Cassandra Baker, Jessica Shear, Desiree Shear, Tasha Munoz, Ricky Shear, Nikki Shear, and Cody Shear, great grandchildren: James Anderson, Anna Anderson, David Lake lll, Payton Lake, Daniel Moreno, Veronica Moreno, Penelope Lake, Kristopher Lake ll, Ryan Baker, Carter Baker, Alexander Shear, Jaxson Mahoney, Jaxson Witcher, Marley Munoz, Blake Munoz and pets, Jon’De, Blaze, and Chloe. Nancy is preceded in death by her brother, Eugene Harpin, sister, Martha Raven as well as her aforementioned parents. An inurnment service will be held on Wednesday, December 15, 2021 at 10:00 am at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 N Cave Creek Rd, Phoenix AZ 85024. The family is requesting memorial contributions be made to the Arizona Humane Society- https://www.azhumane.org