Barbara Lea (Gray) Shears entered into Heaven at 7:00pm on Friday, December 11, 2015 at Freeman Hospital with her family whom she loved so very much surrounding her. Her husband, Bob Shears, lay in bed asleep at the home they shared in Galena for 47 years awaiting his turn to meet her. Bobby Lee Shears joined his bride at 12:42am on Saturday, December 12, 2015 – a mere 6 hours later, with the family he loved around his bed. Bob and Barbara were able to enter into Eternity hand and hand just as they had walked through life for the past 65 years. Barbara was born to Claude and Bessie Gray on August 26, 1931 in Neosho, MO. She graduated from Neosho High School in 1949 where she enjoyed baton as the Majorette in her high school’s marching band. She worked as a ticket taker at a local theater in high school and then went to work for the Jasper County Recorder of Deeds after graduation. Bob was born to Dan and Ruby Shears (Litch) on March 9, 1928 in Galena, KS. His dad died in 1939, and his mom married Howard Litch in 1943. Howard raised and loved Bob and his sister Dixie as if they were his own biological children. Bob told family not long ago that his dad, Howard Litch, was the greatest man he ever knew. Bob graduated from Galena High School in 1946 where he was a star quarterback and basketball player. He worked as a Gandy Dancer laying railroads in high school to stay in shape for sports. In 1946 following graduation, he joined the United States Marine Corp at the end of the WWII occupation in Europe. He became a reserve in 1948 and began working for Howard Litch Garage. Bob and Barbara met at Wimpey’s Bar and Grill in Reddings Mill, MO where Barbara was on a date with another man. She suddenly became very ill with an appendicitis attack, but her date was not concerned. However, Bob noticed this girl he had never met before was not well and offered to drive her to the hospital. He carried her to the car and took her to the hospital. Several days later he called to check on her and the rest as they say is history. Bob and Barbara married on July 15, 1950 in Neosho, MO. In January of 1951, Bob, a Sergeant in the 1st Marine Division, was called back into active duty to serve in the Korean War. Barbara lived with his parents and worked at Ramsey’s Department store while she awaited his return. He left active duty in 1952 and went to work full-time for his dad at Howard Litch Garage. In 1958 they moved the garage to a location on Main Street and opened L and S Auto Supply across the street. Bob and his sister, Dixie, ran the Auto Supply store until they closed it in 1986 and Bob went to work for the US Post Office as a Rural Carrier. He worked for the Post Office for 10 years before retiring in 1996. Bob was a member of the Galena Fire Department from 1960-1976, and served as City Judge in the mid-70’s. Bob loved to play tennis and bowl in his younger years. Bob and Barbara were blessed with two children, Howard Timothy Shears and Susan Leigh (Shears) Ezell. They were blessed to help raise their niece, Julie (Farris) Kaetz, as a daughter too. Barbara worked in the home raising children when they were young and then for Galena Schools as a cook from 1966-1973. She went to work for Baxter Memorial Hospital as a cook from 1973-1991, and then went back to Galena Schools as a cook in 1991 until she retired in 1999. Anyone who knows Barbara knows she was an excellent cook and she was especially famous for her homemade “Nana’s Fudge.” She loved to spend summer days beside her pool and loved to make delicious meals for her family. When she introduced herself to someone new she would say, “You can call me Nana.” Bob and Barbara loved the Lord, and Barbara was a well-known prayer warrior. They were members of the Galena Assembly of God Church and then later Tennessee Prairie Friends Church. Bob and Barbara Shears were best known as Nana and Papa to many people. Their home and especially their pool were open to everyone, and they had a way of making others feel loved and appreciated. Bob and Barbara considered their family one of their biggest joys in life. They are survived by their son, Tim Shears and his wife Kathy; their daughter Susan (Shears) Ezell and her husband Don; niece Julie (Farris) Kaetz; granddaughter Sammie (Ezell) Brueggemann and her husband Josh; grandson Jeremy Ezell and his wife Vicky; and granddaughter Shannon (Shears) Thomas. They absolutely adored their 10 great-grandchildren who will serve as honorary pallbearers– Nicholas, Natalie, Naomi, Nolan, Colton, Grady, Tyler, Tristan, Hadley and Kai. Barbara’s brothers Gene Allen and Jerry Gray as well as several nieces and nephews also survive. They were met in Heaven by their grandson TJ Shears and their nephew Pat Kaetz as well as their parents and several siblings. A joint celebration of their lives will take place at Tennessee Prairie Friends Church in Galena, KS on Saturday, December 19, 2015 at 1:00pm. Marine Sgt. Bob Shears will be honored with military rites. The family will have a visitation immediately following the service until 3:30pm. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be made to the Galena Mining and Historical Museum. The family has felt so loved and cared for during this time of both grief and celebration. Bob and Barbara shared a love in this life that could not be parted even in death. The Lord blessed them by assuring that they never knew the grief of losing the other. They will be missed by their family and many friends who anticipate a joyful reunion one day in Eternity.