Beverly J. Shields

Beverly J. Shields Beverly Jean Kelley Crouch Shields died of heart disease suddenly Dec. 11, 2007 at her retirement home in Apache Junction. Mrs. Shields was born in Peoria in 1937 and raised in Pekin, Ill. She is survived by her husband of 36 years, John, originally of Morris, Ill., and countless cousins all around the nation. She was preceded in death by her parents, Alvie and Helen (Gorsage) Kelley, and her son, Daryl. She attended Pekin schools and then Western Illinois University for her bachelor's, and Illinois State for her masters and ABD in the doctoral program. She began teaching in New Jersey while married to John Crouch of Galesburg, Ill., then in Springfield, Pekin and Galesburg, and finally at Joliet Central High School in 1966. She left for the publications field, working for Walinger Inc. in Chicago, then returning for the remainder of her teaching career to Joliet Junior College in 1970. She spent 23 years there, retiring in 1992 as professor emeritus of English and Journalism. She was active and an officer for many year in AFT. Following retirement from education, she moved to Arizona, working in tax, restaurant, clothing and cosmetic retail businesses. She belonged to the East Mesa Christian Church, chairing the Worship Committee for 10 years and volunteering as an ombudsman to nursing homes for Pinal and Maricopa counties. In her last few years, joining her husband, she became active in the BPO Elks Lodge No. 2349 in Apache Junction. She was also a member of the Women's Auxiliary, Loyal Order of Moose, in East Mesa.Not a fan of funerals and wakes, Mrs. Shields always said she would much prefer a good old Irish wake for friends and family. That and all other arrangements are pending.