LANCASTER - Judith James Lane Kirby Shearer, of Lancaster, KY, passed
away on Feb 8, 2011. Born in the Buena Vista community of northern
Garrard County on April 16, 1920, she was the daughter of John Wesley
Lane and Pauline Arnold Lane. Judith attended Transylvania University
from 1936 to 1941, receiving her bachelors' degree in English with
minors in History and Psychology. She was a member of Lambda Omega
sorority. While at Transylvania, she met William Milford Kirby of
Wedowee, AL. They married in June, 1941. She moved to Pasadena, CA
during William's tour of duty in the Pacific Theater of WWII. She
taught elementary school in Glendora, CA and attended Laverne
University. After William was discharged, they returned to Kentucky,
where she taught in Garrard and Fayette County schools for many years,
completing coursework at the University of Kentucky. She was a loyal
member of Garrard County Hospital Auxiliary, Friends of Lancaster
Cemetery, Daughters of the American Revolution - Governor James
Garrard Chapter, Garrard County Historical Society, Garrard County
Library Board, Habitat for Humanity of Garrard County, Garrard County
Cooperative Parish, Robert Barr Society of Transylvania University,
and Lancaster Christian Church (Deacon and Elder).

She is preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Henry Hackley
Lane, a sister-in-law, Nora Curtis Lane, an infant son, Gil Lee, and
her husband of 51 years, William M. Kirby.

At the age of 75, she married Robert Alexander Shearer, who also
preceded her in death. She is survived by three children; Sheila
(Robert) Miller of Richmond, KY, Michael (Joanna) Kirby of Lancaster,
KY, and Bryan (Connie) Kirby of Richmond, KY; one step-son: Robert
Lynn (Pam) Shearer of Elizabethtown, KY.

Other survivors include five grandchildren; Chad (Shannon) Smith of
Union, KY, Meara (Garrett) Brown of Glennville, GA, Sytira (Ben)
Saunders of Richmond, VA, Patrick Kirby of Lexington, KY, Megan Kirby
of Lexington, KY; two step-grandchildren: Alex (Vickie) Shearer of
Elizabethtown, KY, Chapin (Aaron) Brown of Lafayette, IN; two
great-grandchildren: Liam Alexander Smith of Union, KY and William
Oliver Trenton Brown of Glennville, GA; two step-grandchildren: Braden
Shearer and Grant Shearer, four nieces: Clara Henry Lane Conner of
Stanford, KY, Evelyn Curtis Lane (Nathan, Jr.) Sims of Burgin, KY,
Dianne Hood of Valley, AL, Lois Heilemann of Sierra Madre, CA; eight
great-nieces and nephews: Paula (Rice) Lear, Larry (Marsha) Sims,
Susan Conner, Pam (Matthew) Adams, Richard (Violet) Heilemann, Katie
(Nathan) Dang, Bryan (Mandy) Johnson, Alaine (Jon) Hodge. Visitation
shall be held at 10am at the Lancaster Christian Church on Saturday,
Feb 12th, followed by the funeral service at the Church, which shall
commence at 11am. Burial is to follow at the Lancaster Cemetery in
Lancaster, KY. In lieu of flowers, Judith has requested that donations
may be made to the Lancaster Christian Church General Fund, Habitat
for Humanity of Garrard County or the Garrard County Cooperative
Parish.

Published in Lexington Herald-Leader on February 10, 2011