Francis Carmony Mcshane

Francis Carmony McShane, 88, of La Grande died October 9 at a local care facility following a brief illness. Family and friends may call from 4p.m. until 6:30p.m. Wednesday, October 13, 2004 at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 7th Street La Grande, Oregon. Recitation of the Rosary will follow at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley. A Requiem Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, October 14, 2004 at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, 1002 L Avenue, with Father Hank Albrecht officiating. Interment will follow at Hillcrest East Cemetery.

Mr. McShane was born September 26, 1916, to Martin Francis and Maude Mae (England) McShane in Forbes, ND. He attended State Normal and Industrial College in Ellendale, ND, before entering the Marine Corps in July 1942 where he served in Saipan, Okinawa and China. While on leave in Los Angeles, CA. he met his future wife of more than 58 years, Margaret (Peggy) Stanton. They were married upon his discharge from the service in 1946. He worked for the Oregon State Department of Agriculture in Salem for a short time before becoming the City Recorder in Ontario, OR, in 1947. In 1955, he moved his growing family to La Grande, OR , and assumed the position of City Recorder-Treasurer until his retirement in 1981.

He was a man of strong faith with a legendary sense of humor. He enjoyed his family, camping, fishing and walking. He was diagnosed with macular degeneration in his later years, but continued to walk and perform chores around the house, always perfectly done. He passed on his love and knowledge of sports to his family and listened to his Talking Books for the Blind for hours.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret (Peggy) McShane of La Grande; children and their spouses; Brian and Pam McShane of Aurora, Colorado; Michael and Isabel McShane of Columbia, Maryland; Kirk and Denise McShane of Portland, Oregon; Jeffrey and Rachel (Lawrence) McShane of Pendleton, Oregon; Gregory McShane of Pendleton, Oregon; Rebecca McShane of Newberg, Oregon; and Maureen McShane of Newberg, Oregon; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren, several cousins, in-laws, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two sisters and four brothers.

Memorials may be made to Talking Book and Braille Services, Oregon State Library, Grande Ronde Hospital Home Care and Hospice Services, or the Scholarship Fund at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 7th Street, La Grande, Oregon 97850.