Mrs. Shirley Jean Barnes Shea, age 77, a resident of 4773 Cherry Road, Washington, died Thursday, April 11, 2018, at Vidant Beaufort Hospital following a brief illness.

A private floating wake will be held on Saturday, April 21, 2018, at the home.

Mrs. Shea was born in Wayne County on Nov. 23, 1940, daughter of the late Melvin Gray Barnes and the late Lila Smith Barnes and was also preceded in death by two brothers James Edward Barnes and Charles William Barnes. On July 18, 1961, she married Ronald F. Shea, who survives. Mrs. Shea’s first priority was family and friends and sharing stories of times past. She was a homemaker and enjoyed working in her yard tending to her flowers and observing nature. Additionally, she worked for several years at Beaufort County Nursing Home, assisting in the care of geriatric patients.

Surviving along with her husband, Ronald, of the home, are her three sons: Jimmy Shea and wife Wendy, of Washington, Chuck Shea, of Core Point, and Tommy Shea and Jennifer, of Washington; a brother, John Barnes and wife Linda, of Cary; sisters, Brenda Barnes, of Black Creek, and Mary Ellen Orach, of Quakertown, Pennsylvania; three grandchildren, Michael Yow, Heather and Kelly Shea; and two great-grandchildren, Callie and Riley Yow, all of Washington, as well as several sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Shea’s family would like to thank the staff of the Washington Fire Rescue and EMS Department, as well as the staff of Vidant Beaufort Hospital Emergency Department, ICU, and third floor nurses, and Asera Care Hospice, all for their compassionate and professional care shown to Mrs. Shea and her family.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks for memorial contributions to be made to a charity of your choosing.