Obituary of Michael Andrew Shaw

MICHAEL ANDREW SHAW Michael Andrew Shaw, 77, of Camas, WA passed away peacefully the evening of Sept 17th at the Ray Hickey Hospice House in Vancouver, WA from complications due to cancer. He was born Oct. 8th, 1936 in St. Joseph, MO to Leslie "Mike" Shaw and Zelda Colton Shaw. Two years later his brother John was born. He lost his father at age 7. He and his mother and brother then lived with godparents Vern and Peggy Crook in Bedford, Missouri Valley, and Des Moines, IA. He graduated from Missouri Valley High School in 1955 and then attended Drake University in Des Moines followed by Iowa State University in Ames. It was during this second year of college that he decided to go into ministry. He attended Buena Vista College, Storm Lake, Iowa and graduated with a bachelor's degree in the Spring of 1959. He was accepted at the San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, CA and graduated in June of 1962 with a Masters of Divinity. He was ordained into Presbyterian Ministry on June 23rd, 1962 at Central Presbyterian Church, Des Moines, IA and served congregations in Atkins, AK, Bartlesville OK, Rexburg and St. Anthony Idaho, on the Duck Valley Indian Reservation in Owyhee, NV, in Reno NV, Schaller IA, and Redmond, OR. He retired in 1997 and moved to Alpharetta, GA to help care for family. He moved to Camas, WA in 2002 where he continued to help family, be an active member of the local church, and enjoy his garden and bird watching. Throughout his life he enjoyed camping, fishing and being outdoors. He lived his life to help other people. He was married to Shirley Anderson Dec. 22nd, 1957. They had two children. They were later divorced. He remarried, February 1981 to Sara Keller Jay. He is preceded in death by his parents and godparents. He is survived by his wife Sara Shaw, of Camas, WA; one daughter and one son, David Michelle Shaw of Idaho Falls, ID; brother Dr. John Sharron Shaw of Louisville KY; niece Laurie Greg Breneman of Louisville, KY; nephew Michael Robert Shaw; Step daughters Gayle Jonah Jimenez of Moraga, CA; Diane Phil Clay of Camas, WA; Step sons Jim Jay of West Linn, OR; and Russel Tina Jay of Cave Creek, AZ, 4 grandsons, 2 great granddaughters, and 11 step grandchildren. The family wishes to thank the amazing staff at the Ray Hickey Hospice House for their loving, tender care during Michael's short stay there. These are truly wonderful people. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4th, at St. John's Presbyterian Church, 1206 NE Birch St., Camas, WA. Pastor Ken Campbell will conduct the service. Straub's Funeral Home & Columbia River Cremation in Camas was in charge of the arrangements. To send condolences or to sign the online guest book please visit www.straubsfuneralhome.com. The family asks that any donations in Michael's name be made to St. John's Presbyterian Church in Camas, WA.