NEW LISBON — Kenraid (Ken) Shields, 86, died at Oneonta Nursing & Rehabilitation Center on March 25, 2003, due to complications from lymphoma.
Ken was born on Mt. Utsayantha, near Stamford in Delaware County on March 16, 1917. He was the fifth son of Robert and E. Grace (Boggs) Shields. He was predeceased by brothers, Bernald, Fenton, George and Lyle.
When Ken was 2 years old, the family moved to Morris, settling in the Light Homestead, overlooking the village. He grew up and attended schools in Morris, graduating in 1934. He then attended the Crane School of Music at Potsdam Normal School, now the State University College at Potsdam, where he met Doris Pederson, who became his wife.
They resided in Morris until 1950, when they moved to New Lisbon and purchased the Clayton Lull farm, known to this day as Sugar Ridge Farm.
Ken was employed as a youth by Morris Manor Farms, Linn Manufacturing of Morris and was self-employed with friend Dick Campfield as Campfield & Shields, painters & decorators and Musson Brothers Tree Surgeons.
After serving in World War II, in the Pacific Theater as a radio operator and field artillery, Ken was employed by Scintilla Corporation. He then taught music at Laurens Central School until joining the New York State Division of Employment as a farm representative in the Oneonta and Norwich offices.
In 1966, Ken devoted himself fully to Sugar Ridge Farm, breeding and raising a fine herd of registered Jersey cattle. Ken remained actively involved in the farm until the time of his illness.
Ken's hobbies included hunting and other outdoor activities such as maple syrup production, forestry, firewood and carpentry. A fine baritone, Ken sang with numerous local choral groups, and as recently as last year, 2002, Ken sang at the funeral of a family friend. He was one of the original members of the Oneonta Chorale, now known as the Catskill Choral Society, and did solo work in several area churches.
He was highly skilled at all types of equipment maintenance and repair, which served him well in his primary avocation, Sugar Ridge Farm. Starting with two horses and six cows, Ken developed the farm into a registered Jersey dairy. The herd was the result of great emphasis placed on breeding and quality farming practices. The family showed their prize Jerseys regularly at the Otsego County Fair.
Ken joined the Morris United Methodist Church when he was 13 years old and was one of their oldest living members. He was a church trustee for many years, and periodically directed or sang in the church choir. He served as a trustee of the Village Library in Morris and was active with The American Jersey Cattle Association, The New York Farm Bureau, The Delaware Jersey Cattle Club and The Nature Conservancy. He served as a tax assessor for the town of New Lisbon for many years.
He is survived by his wife, Doris P. Shields; sons, Bruce of New Lisbon, David and wife, Diana, of Kodiak Island, Alaska, Eric of Morris, and Chris and wife, Barbara, of Treadwell; and daughter, Kristina of New Lisbon; six grandchildren, Meredith of White Plains, Erika of Atlanta, Ga., Sylvana of West Orange, N.J., Clark of Cambridge, Mass., Luvonne and Linn of Kodiak Island, Alaska; many nieces and nephews; dear friend Audrey Shields of Cherry Valley; brother-in-law Dr. Thoru Pederson of Worcester, Mass.; and sister-in-law Hilda Bigwood of Williamsville.
A memorial service will be held at the Morris United Methodist Church at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 29, 2003, with the Rev. Ann Blair officiating. Family will greet friends immediately following the service in the lower level of the church.
In lieu of flowers, friends are invited to make contributions to the Memorial Fund at the Morris United Methodist Church or the Village Library of Morris, NY 13808.
Internment will be later in the spring. Arrangements are by the Johnston Funeral Home of Morris.
Published in The Daily Star on March 27, 2003.
NEW LISBON — Graveside committal services for Kenraid and Doris Shields will be held in Hillington Cemetery, Morris, on Saturday, June 7, 2003, at 1 p.m.
Friends are invited back to the Shields' residence after the committal services.
Published in The Daily Star on June 5, 2003.
Find a Grave Memorial for Kenraid Shields
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