Elaine Katherine Shead

Elaine Katherine Shead, 91, resident of Charleston, Missouri died June 22, 2020 at her home.  She was born April 2, 1929 in Galveston, Texas to Louis and Lillian Mickens. She was the 3 ^rd of eight children. She and her family were introduced to Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1940 when Brother Ray Heileman came to their home. The two families remain close to this day.

She was baptized with several family members in 1944, after making her dedication to Jehovah God. In the summer of 1946, she attended a convention in Cleveland, Ohio and met Leroy Shead (deceased), who she married October 25, 1946 in St. Louis, Missouri. Together they raised six children and a grandson, Joseph (Dorothy, deceased), Jonathan (deceased), Sylvia (deceased), Nathaniel, Helena, Melvin (Bridget), Edwin (grandson).

Elaine is survived by 4 siblings, Malvin (Bubba) Mickens, Walter Mickens, Edna Mitchell and Mary Neal. She is loved and missed by several special grandsons and granddaughters, great grandsons and granddaughters, nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, spiritual children and cherished friends of faith.

She served as a pioneer in the Christian Congregation for 64 years and received much joy in teaching and sharing the Good News of God’s Kingdom with everyone she had the opportunity to talk with.

Recently, she had the privilege of talking with her family and hearing their expressions of how she has had a positive influence in their lives.  This brought her such happiness.

She was an outstanding homemaker during her 66 years of marriage. She found great joy in sewing and crocheting, gifting her creations to family and friends. She was known for her hospitality. She enjoyed cooking and one of her most requested desserts was her husband’s family recipe “Butter roll”, which she learned and made it her own.

She will be fondly remembered by many for rarely being seen without a beautiful hat on!

Elaine will be dearly missed, and we thank Jehovah God for the hope of the resurrection, soon to come. She looked forward to the time when she will be able to enjoy life with her family and friends in the promised Paradise on earth, by means of God’s Kingdom.

Please, remember Elaine for her joy and positivity, but more importantly for her service and unshakable faith in her Creator, Jehovah God.

A memorial service will be held July 4, 2020 at 3:00 P. M.