Richard Blair Shaw

Richard Blair Shaw, oil driller and banker, father, grandfather, and friend, went to be with the Lord at the age of 73 on Tuesday, August 24, 2021, after a long, hard-fought battle with cancer.

Richard was born at the Alameda Naval Hospital in California but moved to Kingsville in the 1960s to attend college at Texas A&I University. He fell in love with and married Jo Nell Geryk, and they grew a beautiful family together. Known by many names over the years, Richie, Rick, Richard, Dad, Pawpaw, and Grandpa, his family and friends knew they could call on him for help or advice. He believed if you want something, you mustn’t simply wish for it but must work hard to obtain it and once said, “Wish in one hand and sh*t in the other, and see which hand fills up faster.” He taught his children and grandchildren how to be responsible and respectful, and if you got out of line, he’d threaten to open up a can of whoop-a**. His grandkids never saw him open up said can, but they feared it when Pawpaw caught them running through the house slamming doors (which can cut off your fingers!) Richard was straightforward and blunt, but also humble, generous and kind. He didn’t enjoy school himself (he’d rather be outside than reading), but he set aside money for all his children and grandchildren to go to college. He patiently taught several of them to drive and taught whoever was interested to hunt and fish. He loved keeping up with the grandkids’ sports achievements, and if he couldn’t attend a game or meet, he would watch online or anxiously await updates and calls afterward. He was their biggest fan. Now he has a bird’s eye view.

Richard is preceded in death by his parents, Ethel Marie Shaw and Richard Albert Shaw, as well as his sister Linda Holmes and his son Shad Shaw. He is survived by his wife Jo Nell Shaw, his stepmother Deanne Shaw, his children Shane (Sharon) Shaw and Shonna (Tracey) Simpson, his sisters Amy (Josh) Atkins and Ashley (Sam) Atkins, his grandchildren Shelly, Lauren, Nicole, Heather, and Shani Shaw, Tessa (Josh) Shandley, Paige (James) Clement, Tristin (Allen) Hibler, Shad, and Noah Shaw, Austin and Ethan Piegari, and Layne, Lyndin, and Luke Simpson, his brother-in-laws Bobby Holmes and Jimmy (Carol) Geryk, and sister-in-law Linda (Robert) Cadwell, his nephews and nieces Isaak and Addyson Atkins, Judy Fugler, Melinda Holmes, Bobby Cadwell, Christi (Beau) Nielsen, Jessica (Greg) Del Bosque, Jennifer (Scott) Aldrich, and Tori (Braxton) Bielski and his great-grandchildren Eileen and Gran Shandley and Jimmy Clement.

Visitation will be held on Friday, August 27, 2021, from 5-9 p.m. at Turcotte Piper Mortuary in Kingsville, Texas with a prayer service to begin at 7:00 p.m.. A graveside service will take place at Resthaven Cemetery on Saturday, August 28, at 10 a.m.

Services are entrusted to Turcotte-Piper Mortuary, 205 General Cavazos Blvd. Kingsville, Texas 78363.