Leona Carrie (Hershey) Shears went home to be with her Lord and Savior on June 11, 2025.
Born March 29, 1930, in Keyser, WV, she was the daughter of the late John W. and Mamie (Harman) Hershey. She was also preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Vance R. Shears, daughter Lois Jeanette Shears, daughter-in-law Linda Shears, brother Raymond Hershey, sisters Mildred Leatherman and Mary Dimlich, and granddaughter Billie Jo Crites.
Leona’s most precious occupation was that of being a homemaker and a loving and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She also worked as a seamstress, helped operate an orchard, was an Avon representative, and helped with her parents’ potato chip business. She was a member of Believer’s Fellowship of the Word in Love, Keyser.
Leona received Jesus Christ as Savior at age 18. She loved her Lord and was involved in various church ministries. She was passionate about her family and friends and was always concerned about others. She often showed her care and compassion by sending notes of encouragement to those who were ill or hurting.
Surviving are two sons, Roger V. Shears and wife Glenda of Moorefield; Robert W. Shears and wife Teresa of New Creek; two daughters Mary Susan Becker and husband Kenneth of Keyser, and Melissa Tichnell and husband David, of Keyser; eight grandchildren, Heather Johnson, Jonathan Becker, Shannon Becker, Salenna Shears, Savanna Shears, Bobbi Jo Kesecker, Stephanie Rodrigues, and Sara Hunt. Eleven great-grandchildren, Wesley Johnson, Leah Johnson, Caspian Becker, Leroy Vance Becker, Zachary Crites, Anthony Haggerty, Hannah Kesecker, Katelyn Kight, Emily Mayhew, Philip Wilt, and Callie Jo Jeanette Wilt; one great-great-grandchild Dallas James Potter.
Friends will be received at the Smith Funeral Home, Keyser Chapel, on Sunday, June 15, 2025 from 2-6 p.m.
Funeral services will be conducted at the Smith Funeral Home, Keyser Chapel, on Monday, June 16, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Randy Crowe and Pastor Rick Bergdoll officiating. The family will also receive friends one hour prior to the service.
Interment will be in the Duling Cemetery, Keyser.
Condolences may be left at smithfuneralhomes.net.
The family requests that expressions of sympathy take the form of contributions to Gideon’s Internation Bibles, PO Box 97292, Washington, DC 20090-7292 or to a charity of their choice.
