Jeffrey Everett Shea

Jeffrey Everett Shea was born on October 23, 1951 in Tarentum, Pennsylvania to JoAnn Stark Shea and Everett Draucher Shea. He was a National Champion Arabian horse trainer and rider for Windfall Farms in St. Mary’s, Pennsylvania. He was the ultimate cowboy, who was fondly named “Sundance” by his college classmates at Arizona State University, where he graduated with his BS in Business Administration. He was an early riser who never had a lazy day, a brilliant businessman, a faithful Christian, and the most loving husband, father, and grandfather.

He is survived by his much loved family, whom he referred to as his “clan”: wife and soulmate, Louanne Tucker Shea, daughter Lauren Shea Abadie and son-in-law Dr. Sebastian Abadie, daughter Christine JoAnn Shea, daughter Wendeline Shea Batten Esq. and son-in-law Burke Batten Esq., grandchildren Liam Shea Abadie, Walter Shea Abadie, Charlotte Philippa Batten, and Juliet Evangeline Batten.

Three and a half years ago, doctors told our dad he may have 4 months to live. Since then, he fought valiantly- underwent many surgeries, experienced countless brilliant little miracles, and endured some of the most painful things imaginable. Throughout it all, he stayed impossibly positive and never once complained. We are so blessed to have had the opportunity to tell him how much we love and appreciate him, and to have held his hands when he passed to eternal life. In his last weeks on this earth, we went to the beach, ate dinners under the beautiful evening sun, had lots of ice cream, saw shooting stars, watched the boys play tennis and the girls swim, and celebrated life. He loved living life and did it to the absolute fullest.

We will miss seeing the deep love he shared with my mother, his hugs and laughter, infectious smile, his napkin letters with original cartoons (his character, Luke, was always up to no good), his unmatched French toast and eggs and “Daddy’s Specials,” summers spent wrangling horses and trail riding together, going to the NC State fair for Al’s fries and caramel apples, pizza Fridays, his excitement during Christmas, campfires in his fire pit, Old Granddad whiskey and Coke holiday toasts, having him at every Irish dance and pageant event, ring-side at riding lessons and shows, and court-side supporting our dreams in tennis (remembering our daddy-daughter tennis tournament that unfortunately cost him his toenails), picking out the perfect walking sticks for hikes in the mountains, going on all kinds of adventures, his signature “over-the-top” head rubs, his hilarious stories, playing his original games “if I had a cracker” and “kick the stick,” his support to calm all of life’s storms, his warm hands holding ours through it all- his words of wisdom that sometimes you have to “go with it,” try to minimize your risk, have the will to push forward and get through, that nighttime thoughts belong to our Lord and not to our worries, to stay positive, have fun, and just relax!

He gave all of himself to his family. His legacy of unfailing love, outrageous humor, supernatural strength, sense of adventure, commitment to our Lord God and our family, honesty, and bravery will have eternal significance through us and his grandchildren and onwards. Everything we do will be in his memory.

A viewing will be held at Brown-Wynne Funeral home located at 200 SE Maynard Rd, Cary, NC 27511 on Thursday, September 9, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church at 804 High House Road, in Cary, North Carolina 27513, on Friday, September 10, at 1:00 pm.

To watch the Mass through live stream:

https://boxcast.tv/channel/cngtc2lhyliq8r89zhq7

The other way to the site is: www.stmichaelcary.org

livestream Parish Streaming Channels – Funerals

In lieu of flowers, please consider sending a donation in Jeff’s name to Holy Family Catholic Church located at 216 Governor Burke Road in Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278. Family was everything to Jeff.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13