Susan Shaw

SCARBOROUGH — Susan “Sue” Jean Kenney Shaw, 70, of North Sebago, passed away peacefully at the Maine Veterans' Home in Scarborough on Monday, Sept. 8, 2014. Though other events led to her failing health, after a 10-year battle with dementia, she succumbed to the effects of the disease.

Sue was born on Feb. 3, 1944. in West Hartford, Conn. She grew up and spent her early years in Hartford while summering with her family in Sebago. Sue spent her last two years of high school at Fairfax Hall School in Waynesboro, Va., and graduated in 1962. Sue went on to attend Virginia Intermont College, in Bristol, Va., where she was a junior torchbearer and active in synchronized swimming, while lifeguarding during summers at Camp Mataponi in Naples. She took classes at a number of colleges, including Vassar College, before getting married and having children.

After living in both Virginia and West Virginia, Sue decided to return to Sebago, in 1972. She reunited with her childhood sweetheart Larry Shaw, and they married Aug. 15,1975. Sue and Larry remained in the Sebago area, where she was active in the North Sebago United Methodist Church, loved singing in the choir and sharing God's love. She served as a Girl Scout leader for many years, and for decades volunteered at the Sebago Elementary School in classrooms and in support of other activities. Later in life, she followed her heart, taking art classes, and finally returned to college where, in 1998, she received her degree from USM.

Sue's work history was very diverse. She picked apples with her family in Duchess County N.Y., worked at IBM in New York and Virginia, and Sylvania in Maine. She owned and operated the Mop and Bucket, a cleaning business, and ran a bed and breakfast. Using her creativity in folk art and tole painting she, among other items, painted on discarded roof slate, crafted dried flower arrangements, primitive art and quilts, selling them at craft shows and her store, The Country Chickadee. She and Larry opened shops at their North Sebago home called Country Folke Art & Americana and The Pigge Out, where Sue sold her art and ran a bakery and ice cream parlor. For many years some of her most enjoyable time was spent working with her very close friends at Reinhard's farm in Naples. Later in life, Sue was hired by the SAD 61 food service department and worked her way up, becoming the department director.

Spending time with, and entertaining friends and family were Sue's greatest joys, and her home “get-togethers” were some of the most heartwarming and memorable times for those who were close to her — no one can forget her fondue parties. She loved to work in her garden and considered it a true tribute to the memory of, and way to connect with, her grandmother. Sue and her family spent much of their time remodeling their homes and even dug up, refurbished, and installed a used inground pool. Over the years Susan loved traveling with Larry on mystery trips, where she photographed nature, rock walls and old barns. She had an artist's heart, a passion for making crafts, cooking and baking. Before her hospitalization, Sue and Larry spent time traveling the country to visit friends and family and to help them out with their home projects.

Sue is survived by her children, Larry Shaw and his wife Jill of West Plains, Mo.; Chrissie Libby of Portland; Scott Miller and his wife Mona of Salem, Conn.; and Jessica Shaw of Naples; her grandchildren, LB and Shantel Shaw of West Plains, Mo.; Noah and Jacob Libby of Portland; Kyle, Ryan, Carly, and Dylan Miller of Salem, Conn.; and Isaac Holland of Naples; her great-granddaughter, Emma Shaw of West Plains, Mo..; her brothers, Michael Kenney and his wife Martha of Bowling Green, Ky., and Richard Kenney and his wife DeDe of Sulphur, La.; many nieces and nephews; sister-in-law Dorothy O'Donnell; brother-in-law Bob Davis and his wife Merle; several very dear cousins including Dennis and Holly Jenkinson, Ricky and Judi Lewis, Kyle Raymond and Steve and Diane Morgan; and many dear friends including Mabel Olden, Madge Shaw and Sue's church family from the North Sebago United Methodist Church.

Sue is predeceased by her husband, E. Laurence “Larry Shaw; a baby boy; her parents, Richard “Dick” and Vivian Kenney; her grandmother, who lived with her for many years, Carlotta Morgan; and her very special uncle and aunt, Joe and Betty Morgan.

Sue's family sincerely thanks the nurses and staffs of both the Rumford Community Home in Rumford, and the Maine Veterans' Home in Scarborough for the kind and compassionate care they gave to Sue. She was truly loved by them.

There will be a Celebration of Sue's Life Saturday, Oct 18, at the North Sebago United Methodist Church at 11 a.m., followed by a gathering in the church vestry.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations are made in Sue's memory to the Alzheimer's Association, www.alz.org, or 1-800-272-3900, or 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601. Please specify that your donation is to go to RESEARCH to ensure the full amount goes to actual research. Alternatively you could also make donations in Sue's name to the North Sebago United Methodist Church. Arrangements are by Hall Funeral Home, Casco.