Dorothy Howard Shay's Obituary
Dorothy Ann Howard Shay passed away peacefully in her sleep from natural causes on August 10, 2021, in Dallas, Texas. She was 95.
Mrs. Shay was born on January 13, 1926, in Shenandoah, Pa. Excelling in her studies, she graduated a year early from high school in Shenandoah at the age of 16 and immediately journeyed to Washington, D.C., to help with the war cause. Following World War II, she became a federal government employee, working for a variety of departments, including Health, Education, and Welfare, and Immigration and Naturalization Services. She married Jim Shay in Washington, D.C., and moved with her family to Florida and Texas.
While working and raising a family, Mrs. Shay found considerable time to volunteer for her church, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church of Dallas, and community organizations. She was treasurer of Boy Scout Troop 889 in Dallas, a Cub Scout den mother, and an officer in her neighborhood Newcomers Club. She had a friendly, outgoing personality and often hosted and cooked for neighborhood kids. At least one visitor said she was the nicest person he had met.
She loved to travel and visited numerous countries, as well as some 40 states. She was an avid Bridge, Canasta, and Bingo player, often playing with her friends at Twin Rivers assisted living community. She read a wide variety of books, particularly mysteries, and solved many a crossword puzzle. Most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, as well as the family dog, Boots.
Mrs. Shay is survived by son and former daughter-in-law Kevin Shay of Frederick, Md., and Michelle Shay of Frederick; daughter and son-in-law Kathleen and Barton Roffee of Richardson, Texas; son and daughter-in-law Patrick and Cheryl Shay of Conroe, Texas; seven grandchildren, Erika Roffee Blount and her husband Samuel, Julia Roffee Ward and her husband Jason, Morgan Shay, Austin Shay, Krystal Shay, Preston Shay, and McKenna Shay; and two great-grandchildren, Ava and Skylar. She is preceded in death by daughter Sharon Shay and former husband Jim Shay.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association. Services will be held at 10 a.m. August 14 at Restland Funeral Home in Dallas.
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