Kenraid Shields
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.
Kenraid and Doris Shields
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
