Ellen Marie Shearer

Ellen Marie Shearer, age 93, a lifelong Park Rapids, MN area resident, peacefully passed from this life to eternal life on Sunday morning, March 5, 2017 at the Heritage Cottages in Park Rapids.                 Ellen Marie was born on September 12, 1923 in Osage, MN to Thomas and Stella (Rhodes) Gilpin.  She went to Osage Public School through the eighth grade and then went on to attend high school in Park Rapids from where she graduated with the Class of 1941.  As a young woman she ventured to Colorado Springs, CO where she gained employment in the beautiful splendor of the Rocky Mountains.  When she returned to Park Rapids she attended Normal Teachers Training in Bemidji.  As a young teacher, Ellen Marie taught in several country schools in the Park Rapids, Menahga and Frazee area as well as St. Peters Catholic School.  On August 24, 1944, Ellen Marie was united in marriage to Donald A. Shearer in Anacordes, WA.  Their union was blessed with six children: Bonnita, Joseph, Patrick, Daniel, Sue Ann and Ellen.  Ellen Marie devoted her life to making a loving home for her husband and children.  She was a wonderful cook and baker who loved to care for her family.  In 1960, she became a school bus driver for the Shearer and Kendall Bus Company.  Ellen drove several generations of children to school by the time she retired in 1988.  She received the MN Governors Award for 28 years of school bus driving safety without a single accident.  Ellen Marie had a green thumb and loved to raise and nurture beautiful red roses into colorful splendor.  She was a lifetime member of St. Peters Catholic Church in Park Rapids.  Her life was deeply saddened and forever changed by the death of her husband, Donald A. Shearer in 2003.  Above all, Ellen Marie enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren who she loved with all her heart.                 She will be lovingly remembered by her six children: Bonnita (Gary) Siegford of Deer River, MN, Joseph Shearer of Havre, MT, Patrick (Lewana) Shearer of Carencro, LA, Daniel (Sally) Shearer of Park Rapids, Sue Ann (Paul) Erb of Siloam Springs, AR, and Ellen Pence of Owatonna, MN; eight dearly loved grandchildren and many great and great-great grandchildren; as well as a host of nieces and nephews.                 Ellen Marie was preceded in death by her parents; her two sisters: Beth and Beryl; her husband, Donald; one granddaughter, Annette and a one grandson, Patrick.                 Services will be held 11 AM Wednesday, March 8, 2017 at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Park Rapids with Father Tom Friedl officiating.  Interment will be made next to her husband, Donald in the St. Peters Catholic Church Cemetery.  To leave on line condolences please visit www.jonespearson.com