JoAnn Purdy Shea,

December 09, 2025

JoAnn Purdy Shea, of
Oneonta, passed away
Oct. 1, 2025. JoAnn
was born in Birming-
ham on Oct. 24, 1943,
to the late Earle Moses
Purdy and William Eu-
gene Purdy. She lived
in Birmingham until
she was 9 years old,
then moved to Oneonta
in 1952. She graduated
from Oneonta High School in 1961 and grad-
uated from the University Hospital School of
Nursing in Birmingham in 1964 where she
received her nursing degree.
After becoming a Registered Nurse, she
married her high school sweetheart and love
of her life, Ronald Shea in 1966. They be-
gan their 59-year marriage in Auburn before
moving to Arab and then settling down to raise
their family in Oneonta.
JoAnn began her career as an OR nurse
at Lee County Hospital and ended her career
as the Clinic Supervisor of the Blount County
Health Department. Her kindhearted spirit al-
lowed her to serve countless patients, and her
empathy made her a nurse everyone appreci-
ated and trusted.
She loved Lester Memorial and truly en-
joyed listening to the choir. She was an avid
Auburn fan with a special place in her heart
for basketball. She especially loved spending
time with her family and celebrating the ac-
complishments of her seven grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband, Ronald
Shea; her son, Steve (Nicole) Shea; her daugh-
ter, Kelley (Larry) Brown; her daughter, Amy
(Kenneth) Poole; her grandchildren, Stephen
Johnson-Shea, Anna Poole, Luke Tunnell,
Ryan Poole, Micheal Shea, Jake Poole and Nina
Shea; her sister, Carol Jean Barrow; and her
niece and nephews. She is preceded in death
by her mother, father, and brother-in-law Rev-
erend James Barrow.
The family received friends on Saturday,
Oct. 4, 2025, at 10 a.m. at Lester Memorial
Methodist Church. A Celebration of Life began
at 11 a.m. with Pastor Harvey Beck and Pastor
Mark Puckett presiding. Burial followed at Oak
Hill Cemetery.oAnn Purdy Shea, of
Oneonta, passed away
Oct. 1, 2025. JoAnn
was born in Birming-
ham on Oct. 24, 1943,
to the late Earle Moses
Purdy and William Eu-
gene Purdy. She lived
in Birmingham until
she was 9 years old,
then moved to Oneonta
in 1952. She graduated
from Oneonta High School in 1961 and grad-
uated from the University Hospital School of
Nursing in Birmingham in 1964 where she
received her nursing degree.
After becoming a Registered Nurse, she
married her high school sweetheart and love
of her life, Ronald Shea in 1966. They be-
gan their 59-year marriage in Auburn before
moving to Arab and then settling down to raise
their family in Oneonta.
JoAnn began her career as an OR nurse
at Lee County Hospital and ended her career
as the Clinic Supervisor of the Blount County
Health Department. Her kindhearted spirit al-
lowed her to serve countless patients, and her
empathy made her a nurse everyone appreci-
ated and trusted.
She loved Lester Memorial and truly en-
joyed listening to the choir. She was an avid
Auburn fan with a special place in her heart
for basketball. She especially loved spending
time with her family and celebrating the ac-
complishments of her seven grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband, Ronald
Shea; her son, Steve (Nicole) Shea; her daugh-
ter, Kelley (Larry) Brown; her daughter, Amy
(Kenneth) Poole; her grandchildren, Stephen
Johnson-Shea, Anna Poole, Luke Tunnell,
Ryan Poole, Micheal Shea, Jake Poole and Nina
Shea; her sister, Carol Jean Barrow; and her
niece and nephews. She is preceded in death
by her mother, father, and brother-in-law Rev-
erend James Barrow.
The family received friends on Saturday,
Oct. 4, 2025, at 10 a.m. at Lester Memorial
Methodist Church. A Celebration of Life began
at 11 a.m. with Pastor Harvey Beck and Pastor
Mark Puckett presiding. Burial followed at Oak
Hill Cemetery.oAnn Purdy Shea, of
Oneonta, passed away
Oct. 1, 2025. JoAnn
was born in Birming-
ham on Oct. 24, 1943,
to the late Earle Moses
Purdy and William Eu-
gene Purdy. She lived
in Birmingham until
she was 9 years old,
then moved to Oneonta
in 1952. She graduated
from Oneonta High School in 1961 and grad-
uated from the University Hospital School of
Nursing in Birmingham in 1964 where she
received her nursing degree.
After becoming a Registered Nurse, she
married her high school sweetheart and love
of her life, Ronald Shea in 1966. They be-
gan their 59-year marriage in Auburn before
moving to Arab and then settling down to raise
their family in Oneonta.
JoAnn began her career as an OR nurse
at Lee County Hospital and ended her career
as the Clinic Supervisor of the Blount County
Health Department. Her kindhearted spirit al-
lowed her to serve countless patients, and her
empathy made her a nurse everyone appreci-
ated and trusted.
She loved Lester Memorial and truly en-
joyed listening to the choir. She was an avid
Auburn fan with a special place in her heart
for basketball. She especially loved spending
time with her family and celebrating the ac-
complishments of her seven grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband, Ronald
Shea; her son, Steve (Nicole) Shea; her daugh-
ter, Kelley (Larry) Brown; her daughter, Amy
(Kenneth) Poole; her grandchildren, Stephen
Johnson-Shea, Anna Poole, Luke Tunnell,
Ryan Poole, Micheal Shea, Jake Poole and Nina
Shea; her sister, Carol Jean Barrow; and her
niece and nephews. She is preceded in death
by her mother, father, and brother-in-law Rev-
erend James Barrow.
The family received friends on Saturday,
Oct. 4, 2025, at 10 a.m. at Lester Memorial
Methodist Church. A Celebration of Life began
at 11 a.m. with Pastor Harvey Beck and Pastor
Mark Puckett presiding. Burial followed at Oak
Hill Cemetery.
 of
Oneonta, passed away
Oct. 1, 2025. JoAnn
was born in Birming-
ham on Oct. 24, 1943,
to the late Earle Moses
Purdy and William Eu-
gene Purdy. She lived
in Birmingham until
she was 9 years old,
then moved to Oneonta
in 1952. She graduated
from Oneonta High School in 1961 and grad-
uated from the University Hospital School of
Nursing in Birmingham in 1964 where she
received her nursing degree.
After becoming a Registered Nurse, she
married her high school sweetheart and love
of her life, Ronald Shea in 1966. They be-
gan their 59-year marriage in Auburn before
moving to Arab and then settling down to raise
their family in Oneonta.
JoAnn began her career as an OR nurse
at Lee County Hospital and ended her career
as the Clinic Supervisor of the Blount County
Health Department. Her kindhearted spirit al-
lowed her to serve countless patients, and her
empathy made her a nurse everyone appreci-
ated and trusted.
She loved Lester Memorial and truly en-
joyed listening to the choir. She was an avid
Auburn fan with a special place in her heart
for basketball. She especially loved spending
time with her family and celebrating the ac-
complishments of her seven grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband, Ronald
Shea; her son, Steve (Nicole) Shea; her daugh-
ter, Kelley (Larry) Brown; her daughter, Amy
(Kenneth) Poole; her grandchildren, Stephen
Johnson-Shea, Anna Poole, Luke Tunnell,
Ryan Poole, Micheal Shea, Jake Poole and Nina
Shea; her sister, Carol Jean Barrow; and her
niece and nephews. She is preceded in death
by her mother, father, and brother-in-law Rev-
erend James Barrow.
The family received friends on Saturday,
Oct. 4, 2025, at 10 a.m. at Lester Memorial
Methodist Church. A Celebration of Life began
at 11 a.m. with Pastor Harvey Beck and Pastor
Mark Puckett presiding. Burial followed at Oak
Hill Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, donations can
be made to the missions fund at Lester Memo-
rial.