Gary Wayne Shearer was born in Lockwood, Missouri on February 9, 1941, first child of David Edward Shearer and Norma Jean Fortner Shearer. He passed to his rest on December 6, 2016. He lived a life filled with an innate curiosity, and a determined quest to fully know the Creator and His universe. He was well known for his, friendliness, his passion for reading, and rescuing cats and dogs. He leaves to mourn, his beloved wife, Lanis. He also leaves his three children whom he loved dearly, Lisa Kemp of Oklahoma, Erik Shearer of California, and Rhonda Dustin of Battlefield. He leaves 6 grand-children, Brandon, Taylor, and Sierra Kemp, Evan Shearer, Alex and Ashleigh Dustin, and his great-grandson, Noah Kemp. His mother, Norma Shearer, his siblings Jeanne Evans, Kay Shearer, Peggy Bridgman, and Darrell Shearer also survive him. He has many more family and friends who mourn his passing. He was predeceased by his father, David Shearer, his brother, Dee Shearer, and an infant nephew, Brian Evans.
Gary was a 1959 graduate of Lockwood High School. In 1965, he graduated with honors from Union College in Nebraska, with a double major in History and Religion. He met his wife, Lanis, in Springfield and they were married in 1966. After completing his Master's degree, they moved to California where he took his first faculty position as Reference Librarian at Loma Linda University. Later, they moved to the Napa Valley, to join the faculty at Pacific Union College. The next 25 years were spent developing their Reference and Special Collections department, and teaching. He published over 50 bibliographies that were used by students and faculty all over the academic world. After retiring, he was awarded Librarian Emeritus status. In 2008, they moved back to Missouri to retire. His personal library by now, numbered nearly 6,000 volumes. During 2011, he began exhibiting subtle symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease. When the diagnosis was eventually verified, he was devastated. He actively searched for ways to combat the disease. He also wanted his family and friends to know of the diagnosis. "Don't keep it a secret," he said. "If more people are aware of it, maybe more time and money will be put into research to find a cure." He was open about his struggles. He said Alzheimer's was going to have a real fight on their hands to win this battle. "I won't quietly give up!" He contracted a lung disease in early 2016, even though he had never smoked. With the Alzheimer's, his severe spinal degeneration, and now respiratory failure, he was told there was little hope of recovery. But doggedly, he continued to study and learn. Shortly before his death, his overwhelming back pain, his shortness of breath, and the Alzheimer's finally took their toll and he could no longer read.
Interment at Kings Point Cemetery, near Lockwood.
Published in the News-Leader on Dec. 21, 2016
Gary was a 1959 graduate of Lockwood High School. In 1965, he graduated with honors from Union College in Nebraska, with a double major in History and Religion. He met his wife, Lanis, in Springfield and they were married in 1966. After completing his Master's degree, they moved to California where he took his first faculty position as Reference Librarian at Loma Linda University. Later, they moved to the Napa Valley, to join the faculty at Pacific Union College. The next 25 years were spent developing their Reference and Special Collections department, and teaching. He published over 50 bibliographies that were used by students and faculty all over the academic world. After retiring, he was awarded Librarian Emeritus status. In 2008, they moved back to Missouri to retire. His personal library by now, numbered nearly 6,000 volumes. During 2011, he began exhibiting subtle symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease. When the diagnosis was eventually verified, he was devastated. He actively searched for ways to combat the disease. He also wanted his family and friends to know of the diagnosis. "Don't keep it a secret," he said. "If more people are aware of it, maybe more time and money will be put into research to find a cure." He was open about his struggles. He said Alzheimer's was going to have a real fight on their hands to win this battle. "I won't quietly give up!" He contracted a lung disease in early 2016, even though he had never smoked. With the Alzheimer's, his severe spinal degeneration, and now respiratory failure, he was told there was little hope of recovery. But doggedly, he continued to study and learn. Shortly before his death, his overwhelming back pain, his shortness of breath, and the Alzheimer's finally took their toll and he could no longer read.
Interment at Kings Point Cemetery, near Lockwood.
Published in the News-Leader on Dec. 21, 2016
Gary Wayne Shearer was born in Lockwood, Missouri on February 9, 1941, first child of David Edward Shearer and Norma Jean Fortner Shearer. He passed to his rest on December 6, 2016. He lived a life filled with an innate curiosity, and a determined quest to fully know the Creator and His universe. He was well known for his, friendliness, his passion for reading, and rescuing cats and dogs. He leaves to mourn, his beloved wife, Lanis. He also leaves his three children whom he loved dearly, Lisa Kemp of Oklahoma, Erik Shearer of California, and Rhonda Dustin of Battlefield. He leaves 6 grand-children, Brandon, Taylor, and Sierra Kemp, Evan Shearer, Alex and Ashleigh Dustin, and his great-grandson, Noah Kemp. His mother, Norma Shearer, his siblings Jeanne Evans, Kay Shearer, Peggy Bridgman, and Darrell Shearer also survive him. He has many more family and friends who mourn his passing. He was predeceased by his father, David Shearer, his brother, Dee Shearer, and an infant nephew, Brian Evans.
Gary was a 1959 graduate of Lockwood High School. In 1965, he graduated with honors from Union College in Nebraska, with a double major in History and Religion. He met his wife, Lanis, in Springfield and they were married in 1966. After completing his Master's degree, they moved to California where he took his first faculty position as Reference Librarian at Loma Linda University. Later, they moved to the Napa Valley, to join the faculty at Pacific Union College. The next 25 years were spent developing their Reference and Special Collections department, and teaching. He published over 50 bibliographies that were used by students and faculty all over the academic world. After retiring, he was awarded Librarian Emeritus status. In 2008, they moved back to Missouri to retire. His personal library by now, numbered nearly 6,000 volumes. During 2011, he began exhibiting subtle symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease. When the diagnosis was eventually verified, he was devastated. He actively searched for ways to combat the disease. He also wanted his family and friends to know of the diagnosis. "Don't keep it a secret," he said. "If more people are aware of it, maybe more time and money will be put into research to find a cure." He was open about his struggles. He said Alzheimer's was going to have a real fight on their hands to win this battle. "I won't quietly give up!" He contracted a lung disease in early 2016, even though he had never smoked. With the Alzheimer's, his severe spinal degeneration, and now respiratory failure, he was told there was little hope of recovery. But doggedly, he continued to study and learn. Shortly before his death, his overwhelming back pain, his shortness of breath, and the Alzheimer's finally took their toll and he could no longer read.
Interment at Kings Point Cemetery, near Lockwood.
Published in the News-Leader on Dec. 21, 2016
Gary was a 1959 graduate of Lockwood High School. In 1965, he graduated with honors from Union College in Nebraska, with a double major in History and Religion. He met his wife, Lanis, in Springfield and they were married in 1966. After completing his Master's degree, they moved to California where he took his first faculty position as Reference Librarian at Loma Linda University. Later, they moved to the Napa Valley, to join the faculty at Pacific Union College. The next 25 years were spent developing their Reference and Special Collections department, and teaching. He published over 50 bibliographies that were used by students and faculty all over the academic world. After retiring, he was awarded Librarian Emeritus status. In 2008, they moved back to Missouri to retire. His personal library by now, numbered nearly 6,000 volumes. During 2011, he began exhibiting subtle symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease. When the diagnosis was eventually verified, he was devastated. He actively searched for ways to combat the disease. He also wanted his family and friends to know of the diagnosis. "Don't keep it a secret," he said. "If more people are aware of it, maybe more time and money will be put into research to find a cure." He was open about his struggles. He said Alzheimer's was going to have a real fight on their hands to win this battle. "I won't quietly give up!" He contracted a lung disease in early 2016, even though he had never smoked. With the Alzheimer's, his severe spinal degeneration, and now respiratory failure, he was told there was little hope of recovery. But doggedly, he continued to study and learn. Shortly before his death, his overwhelming back pain, his shortness of breath, and the Alzheimer's finally took their toll and he could no longer read.
Interment at Kings Point Cemetery, near Lockwood.
Published in the News-Leader on Dec. 21, 2016
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