Lora May (Russell) Shay

Lora May (Russell) Shay was born on December 03, 1929. Her life ended on Tuesday October 22nd, in Wichita Falls, Texas following a period of health challenges.

Lora married Charles Pat Shay, “Pat” on 11-29-52 at Union Methodist Church, Quincy, Illinois. Lora had two children, Dennis Patrick Shay, and Linda Lora (Shay) Lynch, having moved to Decatur, Illinois. A few years later, the couple relocated to Tucson, Arizona to continue their careers with the Bell Telephone Company. After moving to Phoenix, Arizona in 1978, Lora and Pat retired from Bell Telephone in 1983, where they launched their upholstery business. Lora and Pat set up their upholstery shop in Trenton, Missouri for several years, before making their home in Columbia, Missouri in 1999.

Lora relocated to Texas in 2024 to be near daughter Linda, who oversaw her care, and enjoyed her company along with the residents of Countryside Assisted Living where she lived until she passed.  Lora left behind many friends and acquaintances in every place she lived, worked or visited, as an outgoing, fun seeking, life of the party individual.  Everyone loved Lora.

Lora was superseded in death by her father Carl Russell, mother Geneva (Williams) Russell, sister Gloria Francis (Russell) Evans, and brother Carl Russell Jr (Dorthy). Lora is survived by son Dennis Patrick Shay, grandson Daniel Russell Shay and granddaughter Michelle Ann Shay all of Louisville, Kentucky; daughter Linda Lora (Shay) Lynch of Walters, Oklahoma, grandson Taylor Shay Lynch (Jamie) of Nora, Nebraska, great granddaughters Tatum Lee Lynch and Ada Lace Lynch, and great grandson Kane William Lynch; granddaughter Lakin Lynn (Lynch) Bohac, (Delayne) of Seward Nebraska, great granddaughters Hattie Bohac, Lainey Bohac, and Maggie Bohac. 

Lora was active in the following organizations: Telephone Pioneers, American Legion Women’s Auxiliary, Boone County Elections. Both she and Pat volunteered at many organizations including Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, Columbia VFW, Missouri Honor Flight and more.

Lora's Life will be Celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, October 30, 2025 at Bach-Yager Funeral Chapel.  A private family burial next to her beloved husband will be at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Jacksonville, Missouri.

Lora would request donations to Columbia Missouri American Legion Women’s Auxiliary in lieu of flowers.

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