Velma Shearer

Velma Jordan Shearer, retired registered nurse of Hixson, died Thursday, June, 21, 2012, in a local hospital surrounded by her loving family.She was 87 and had battled Alzheimers Disease for approximately the last 10 years.Born in Louisville, Tenn., in Blount County on Oct. 9, 1924, she spent several of her childhood and teen-age years in Tiffin, Ohio, where she attended the Junior Order school for orphaned children after both her parents died when she was young. She returned to Louisville to live with her oldest sisters family after several years and graduated from Friendsville High in 1943.Upon graduation, she worked at the Aluminum Company of America (ALCOA) plant in Alcoa, Tenn., for one year before entering the Army Cadet Nurses training program at the University of Tennessee at Memphis. She graduated in 1947 with a registered nursing degree.She worked at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Memphis from 1947-55. In 1955, she received a B.S. degree in nursing from the UT College of Nursing in Memphis and a B.A. from the University of Memphis.While in Memphis, she met Wayne Shearer, who was attending the Southern College of Optometry. They were married in 1948 and lived a long, happy life together.After they moved to Chattanooga in 1955, she taught at the Baroness Erlanger School of Nursing and Chattanooga State Community Colleges School of Nursing.After taking some time off to raise two children, she went back to work in the late 1970s at the recently opened Downtown General Hospital. She retired after working there approximately 10 years, having been quite satisfied at choosing the profession of nursing.A lifelong United Methodist, she was a member of Hixson United Methodist Church and the Dr. Sam McConnell Sunday School Class.She was a member and past president of the Chattanooga Area Nurses Association, the Kosmos-Womans Club of Chattanooga and the American Association of University Women of Chattanooga. Mrs. Shearer was a leader in helping to establish a school of nursing at UT-Chattanooga, where she had also received a Masters degree.She was also an avid golfer and was active in the Valleybrook womens golf association for many years, having joined the club after the family moved to Valleybrook in 1965.Possessing a spirit of adventure, Mrs. Shearer also loved traveling.In later years, she and Wayne visited a number of cities and places around the country, often staying in officers quarters on various military bases.Her family was her main source of interest and satisfaction and she was deeply loved. She also had a deep understanding of people and taught her children an appreciation for all the different types of people and talents of the world. She also thought of others first.She was the daughter of the late John and Chloie Carter Jordan; a pioneer family of East Tennessee, and was also preceded in death by her identical twin sister, Thelma Jordan Jereb; other sisters, Marie Jordan Bryant, Polly Ruth Jordan Waddell; and a brother, Errock Jordan.Survivors include her husband, Dr. C. Wayne Shearer: a daughter, Catherine S. Morris, Chattanooga; son and daughter-in-law, John C. and the Rev. Laura Shearer, Knoxville; granddaughter, Mandi J. Hampton and her husband, Tori Hampton; grandsons, Logan and Dru Julian; and great-granddaughters, Briana Bullock and Kylan, Kameron, Jaylynn, JaKayla and Navaeh Hampton; great-grandson, Kayden Hampton; and several nieces and nephews."Mama" will be missed more than words can express.Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday at Hixson United Methodist Church.Services will follow at 12:30 p.m. at the church with the Rev. Reed Shell Jr. and the Rev. Paul Longmire officiating. The Sonrise Choir will also sing.Burial will be at 2 p.m. Monday in National Cemetery.Pallbearers will be Robert Bryant, Chris Cihlar, Tori Hampton, Logan Julian, Thomas Phifer and Kurt Schmissrauter.Honorary pallbearers will be Dru Julian and members of the Dr. Sam McConnell Sunday School Class.Memorial contributions may be made to the organ fund at Hixson United Methodist Church, 5301 Old Hixson Pike, Hixson, TN 37343.Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com.Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, TN 37343.