Helen Shea, the widow of Shea’s Route 66 Museum owner Bill Shea Sr., died Monday at a hospice in Springfield, Illinois, according to an obituary from Butler Funeral Homes. She was 96.
A Springfield native, she worked at Sangamo Electric and helped run Shea’s gas-station museum in Springfield. Bill Shea converted a Marathon station on Route 66 into a museum of gas-station memorabilia that included a 1920s gas station moved from Middletown, Illinois. The Sheas greeted thousands of Route 66 travelers from dozens of countries.
This message was posted on the Shea’s Route 66 Museum Facebook page, which is maintained by her grandchildren:
Bill Shea died in December 2013, and after the museum went through probate, it was put up for sale a few weeks ago.
More information from the obituary:
She is survived by her son, William T. (wife, Rachel) Shea of Springfield; five grandchildren, John W. (wife, Denise) Shea, William C. Shea, Tiffany (husband, Jared) Baker, John W. (wife, Cheri) Harden, and Teresa A. Mayer; four great-grandchildren; Gillian Shea, Jordan Shea, and Clay and Chelby Harden; and sister, Rose Penley of Denver, CO; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
The visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. today at Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. Sixth St. in Springfield. The funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m Friday at St. Joseph Parish, 1345 N. Sixth St., Springfield, with Rev. Steven Janoski celebrant. Both locations, incidentally, are on Route 66.
Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Springfield. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph Church.
(Hat tip: Ken Turmel)