John Caldwell Shaw

John Caldwell Shaw passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in San Marcos, California on Thursday, October 22, 2015 at the age of 88, leaving his wife of eight years. The memorial service will be held Sunday, Nov. 1st, at 11:30 at the Lake Church, 1105 La Bonita Drive, Lake San Marcos, CA. Reverend Dr. James Brown, of the Lake Church is officiating. A Celebration of Life service will be held in Lafayette, LA on Friday, November 6th at 10:00 a.m. at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 3001 Verot School Rd., Lafayette, LA. Reverend Bob Ogle, of Trinity Presbyterian Church is officiating. John was born in Staunton, Illinois graduating from Staunton Community High School in 1945 and joined the Coast Guard. He was honorably discharged from the Coast Guard in 1946. John attended Missouri School of Mines, Rolla, MO before transferring to the University of Illinois. Graduating in 1949 from Colorado School of Mines Golden, Colorado with a degree in Geology. He achieved Emeritus status with the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) being a member for 53 years. After graduation, he was employed with United Geophysical in Pasadena, California until he was called up to serve in the US Army. John was somewhat embarrassed that he served in Bermuda during the Korean War, working on a water purification system before being honorably discharged in 1952. He returned to United Geophysical in Blackwell, OK, later to Shell Oil in Tulsa, and marrying Bernice Branham in 1955. Their daughter, Stephanie was 9 years old when Bernice passed away in 1968. Shortly after that, John was transferred to New Orleans, LA with Exxon and Stephanie went to live with her grandparents in Neosho, MO where John met his second wife, Joan Ruth Hurlburt Wright, a widow with two children of her own, Kevin and Karen. It was love at first sight and they were married in 1971. Together they raised their own 3 children and in 1982 raised a foster daughter Sara Elizabeth Smith for 6 years. They became founders of the Ulster Project of Lafayette in 1980, making lifetime friends in Ireland, traveling for this cause for over 20 years. They were asked to help form another church in Lafayette and were charter members of Trinity Presbyterian Church of Lafayette in 1983. Joan passed away in 2001. After 4 years alone, John decided to make a bucket list which included trips to Zion Nat'l Park, Yosemite, crewing on a tall sailing ship, a raft trip in Yellowstone and an Alaskan cruise. In 2006, John made the Alaskan Cruise and met the love of his life, Sandra Jean Kure! Sandy, in her "God Box" asked for a man of faith and they were married in 2007 in Lafayette, LA. His loving wife Sandy brought joy and happiness to John. He was a man of great faith, unselfish generosity, unending patience and strength. John is lovingly remembered by his wife Sandy; daughter Stephanie and husband Watson, stepdaughter Karen; stepson Kevin and wife Sharon and family; Sara and husband Nick; granddaughter Ashley and husband Charles; grandson Wade and wife Katie; granddaughter Jennifer and husband Jeff; granddaughter Michelle and fiancé Duncan; great-grandchildren Tyler, Bailey, Jackson and WesLynn; Sandy's Randy, Liz, Erica, Michael, Gerard, Christopher and Marcy; and many family and friends who loved him. John is preceded in death by his parents William and Angie Shaw, his brother, Billy, his wife Bernice, and his wife Joan. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association.

John Caldwell Shaw

September 12, 1927 - October 22, 2015