James Finley Shahan |
| Posted 2008-07-24 by Judy Wight Branson |
| The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Thursday, March 17, 2005 James Finley Shahan was born March 15, 1917, in Waurika, Okla. At the age of 14, he had to quit school and go to work to help support his family. He began the life of a cowboy on the ranches in New Mexico and continued until he got married in 1948 to Katherine McDougal. He had a reputation for successfully riding and breaking some of the wildest horses around and paid for his excellence with several near-death accidents, including a broken neck, severe laceration of his throat and numerous other injuries. In 1949, Mr. Shahan went to work for Isbell Construction Company, driving a truck in the copper mines of Silver City, N.M. Upon his move to the new town of Silver Bell, Ariz., he rose to the level of superintendent. Upon retiring at the age of 62, he had become the Mines Manager for Duval Corporation, with responsibility for several copper mines in the Southwest. Mr. Shahan was always proud of his good fortune, in rising from very humble beginnings, to the position of responsibility and reward he achieved through a lifetime of hard and honest work. He taught his two sons the value of hard work, love of nature and the importance of honesty and truth in all their endeavors. Although Mr. Shahan never went back to ranching, his love of horses and the cowboy life never abated. Mr. Shahan died March 13, 2005, in Prescott. He was preceded in death by his youngest son, Michael and by Katherine, his wife of 55 years. His survivors include his son, Thomas; his two granddaughters, Barbara and Whitney; and his two great-grandsons, Justin and Reed. A Memorial service will be held for Mr. Shahan at the Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home in Prescott, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 19th, 303 South Cortez, with a graveside service at 1 p.m. Monday, March 21, at East Lawn Cemetery, 5801 East Grant Road, in Tucson. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Habitat for Humanity, 1230 Willow Creek Road, Prescott, Ariz., 86301 or your favorite charity. Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements. Information provided by survivors. |
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