MABEL LUCILLE (FLOREA) SHIELDS
MABEL LUCILLE (FLOREA) SHIELDS
Mabel Lucille (Florea) Shields, daughter of Nancy Marie (Smith) Florea and Barton Allen Florea, was born May 8, 1922 on the Florea family farm south of Blockton, Iowa.
At a young age Mabel gave her heart to the Lord and was baptized in the Platte River at Blockton. She graduated from Blockton high school in 1939 at age 17 and attended college at Maryville, Missouri where she received her teaching certificate. She began teaching in the Ringgold county country schools for four years and then later received her full teaching degree from Graceland College. While teaching at the Caledonia country school, Mabel met her husband, Charles Junior Shields. They were married May 29, 1942 in Atchison, Kansas. They established their home at Junior’s family farm where they lived their entire lives until last September when Mabel moved to an apartment in town. To this union were born two sons, Charles Barton and Joe Allen Shields.
Mabel taught for nearly 30 years at Delphos, Redding and Mount Ayr before retiring in 1985. When she wasn’t teaching, she was a homemaker and farmhand to Junior. She also kept very busy entertaining family at their home with big dinners, and she loved gardening and canning. Her greatest joys in life were her family and church. She was a member of the Kellerton Assembly of God church and adored her church family. She spent countless hours reading and journaling about her family and daily activities. She was the family’s ‘prayer warrior’ throughout her lifetime.
Mabel passed away on June 3, 2013 at the Mount Ayr Health Care Center. She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years; daughter-in-law, Barbara Shields; great-granddaughter, Charlcey Bowen; her parents; brothers, Virgil and William Florea; sister, Garland Bachman; one sister-in-law, and two brothers-in-law.
She is survived by her sons, Barton Shields of Mount Ayr, Iowa and Joe Shields (Margaret) of Fort Dodge, Iowa; grandchildren, Christina Still (Brad) of Kellerton, Iowa, Lanette Shields (fianc?? Vince Schaller) of Mount Ayr, Iowa, Josh Shields of Mount Ayr, Iowa, Elizabeth Crimmins (Jim) of Jewell, Iowa and John Shields (Julia) of Ames, Iowa; great-grandchildren, Allie, Kelcie, MacKenzie and Kaylie Shields, Trevor Gooding and Macey Bowen; one sister, Ann Dennis (Thomas) of Nixa, Missouri; sister-in-law, Pauline Shields of Corvallis, Oregon, and many other family and friends.
Services were held at Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr on Thursday, June 6, 2013, with Pastor Ed Shields officiating. Musicians were Alice and Clyde Sweeten.
Casket bearers included Josh Shields, Jim Crimmins, John Shields, Brad Still, Vince Schaller and Trevor Gooding.
Honorary pallbearers were Allie Shields, MacKenzie Shields, Kaylie Shields, Kelcie Shields and Macey Bowen.
Burial was in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Mount Ayr.
Memorials are to the Kellerton Assembly of God.
