Obituary of Mary Margaret Shaw

Mary was born in Morgantown, WV on March 6th, 1925, to John Moore and Lura Bell Bennett Moore. Raised with her 3 sisters, Elwanda, Jean and Janie in Belington WV. A small town in a coal mining area, where she and her sisters would roam the woods, pick berries, run up and down the railroad tracks and listen to the radio at night (no tv). After high school and during World War II, she worked at Westinghouse in Fairmont and lived in a boarding house with her sister Elwanda and their friend. The wartime women’s work slogan “WE CAN DO IT” (Rosie the Riveter) was their mantra. When the war ended and soldiers came home, she met and married Dorsey Watts in August of 1948. They had 3 children, Paula, John and Arthur. They moved to Florida to further Dorsey’s teaching career in 1955, but would travel back to W.Virginia every summer to visit Mammaw and Pappaw. One summer they loaded into their station wagon (no A/C), traveled to Arizona to visit their Aunt Jean and see the Grand Canyon, then on to Seattle to visit Aunt Janie, attend the World’s Fair, then back cross country to West Virginia. Mary worked in the school lunchroom the prior year to help pay for the trip. What an adventure !! As her children grew and entered school, she went back into the workforce part time in the beginning and then later fulltime as an insurance clerk at Green Clinic and retired from there as the insurance office manager. Mary loved gardening and being outdoors. Growing flowers and plants from seeds and watching them come to fruition was one of her greatest joys. The other was spending time with her grandchildren. Summer trips to St George Island in the Panhandle and Indian Rocks Beach on the west coast, walking the beach and searching for shells. Trips to Bryson City, North Carolina, enjoying walking trails, fresh farm produce and stoneground corn meal. She loved to cook and bake and always had goodies to spoil the grandchildren. Throughout their childhood she encouraged her grandchildren to pursue their artistic talents in dance and music and attended many recitals. Whether they missed a step or note, in her eyes, they were wonderful and were praised for their efforts. However, she wasn’t shy about voicing her opinion when she was disappointed in their behavior, but generally ended with a hug and words of advice to do better. In later years, after Dorsey’s passing, she married Julian “Buddy” Shaw, known to them for many years through the school system. During their time together they traveled to Europe and cruised to various Caribbean ports, Hawaii and Alaska. They enjoyed the excursions, the formal evening meals and attending the shows. Many trips included one or more of the grandchildren and children. Memories were made as they grew and many gray hairs were grown trying to keep up and deal with the trips that included her teenage granddaughters! As the grandchildren grew and great grandchildren were born, she rejoiced in each birth. Not able to travel far in her later years, she looked forward to each and every family visit and holiday celebrations. She loved deeply and so the passing of her husband, son, granddaughter and great granddaughter were her darkest days and she mourned the losses greatly. She was a strong independent woman, who cherished her family and we are blessed to have had her love and guidance over the many years of her life. A visitation will be held on Friday, January 14, 2022 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Oak Ridge Funeral Home in Haines City, Florida.