(January 23, 1925 – February 1, 2017)
A fifth generation Floridian, Mrs. Shearhart was born the daughter of Clint and Coralie Bass in their family home on Boggy Creek in Kissimmee, Florida. After graduating from Osceola High School (1943), she was active in the Civil Service during WWII, later employed by Dyer Air Force Base, then Tupperware, and Broadway Pharmacy. Mary Ida, “Idie”, was a charter member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, an early member of the Silver Spurs Rodeo, rode in the Quadrille, and helped drive cattle in Osceola County’s early years with her father, Clint Bass.
She received her RN degree in Fort Worth, Texas, at the age of 43, graduating at the top of her class, then practiced nursing in both Texas and North Carolina. Returning to Florida, she became a member of the Florida Historical Society and received numerous Florida Pioneer Certificates; her favorite validated that her grandfather was born in Duvall County prior to Florida becoming a state. As an author, she received the Patrick D. Smith Award for her book, Florida’s Frontier, The Way Hit Wuz.
Mary Ida loved Pavarotti, dancing the waltz and jitterbug, traditional gospel music, Robert Duvall westerns, hunting and fishing (and was a crack shot!), and most of all, her beloved family. She returned to Texas in 2016 to be closer to loved ones.
Mrs. Shearhart was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Walter Van, and twin brother, Ned Hugh “Buddy”. She is survived by her sister, Kay Bass Johnson of DeBary, FL; children Clint Barber and wife Pam, Nancy Barber, Virginia McLamb and husband JB, and Tom Barber and wife Robbie, all of Stephenville, TX; grandchildren Clayton Barber, Reagan Jackson, Royce Light, Cole Barber, Charnie Toro, Wil Mizell, Beau Mayo, Les Mayo, Hannah Smith, Will Parsons, Jennifer Alwell, Brian Barber, and Dillon Barber; and 20 great grandchildren, who lovingly called her “Nini”.
A celebration of her life will take place Saturday, February 18th at 4 pm at Oak Dale Event Center, 9771 N. State Hwy 108, Stephenville, TX. All friends of the family are invited to join us.
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