Emma Louise Shahan, 96, of Pursglove, departed her earthly home on June 17, 2022, at the residence of her granddaughter and caregiver, Brittany Hicks.
Louise was born to Oral B. and Flossye Thompson Cottrell on Jan. 6, 1926, in Charleston.
In November of 1944, Louise married the love of her life, James F. Shahan, who departed his earthly home on May 11, 1993.
Louise spent many years volunteering at The Shack Neighborhood House, where she was also an elder and Sunday school teacher of the Shack Presbyterian Church. Louise was a Sunday school teacher there for both her children and for her granddaughter, Jenny.
Louise worked numerous jobs in her life, including Hecks Department store and the glass factory. When West Virginia University opened its doors to the medical center in 1960, she became a lab assistant, then lab technician in the microbiology/immunology department in the School of Medicine, where she was employed side by side with her daughter, Emma Jean, until her retirement in 2004.
Louise had a smile of an angel and the most giving and loving heart. She was a caregiver to her grandchildren and will definitely be missed by her grandchildren.
Louise is survived by her grandchildren; her caregiver, Brittany and husband Charlie Hicks, of Core, who she fondly referred to as her “Shukata baby,” Jennifer (Matthew) Orinick, of Laurel Point, who she fondly referred to as Jenny, Stacy (Shaun) Becker, of Berkley Springs, Amy (Tim) Cottrill, of Morgantown, Joseph Cesa, of Osage, James (Kathy) Cesa, of Cassville who she fondly referred to as Jimmy, and Tony Phillips, of North Carolina; her great-grandchildren, Emma Jean and Miranda Hicks, who were her world and who she also made her home with, Linda Rowan, Briauna Cesa, Tristen (Dede) Cesa Bonner, Ashley and Ellie Cottrill, Deidre Cesa and Aiden, Shaun and Colin Becker; two great-great-granddaughters, Luna Cottrill and Kennedy Wolford; nieces, Kathy Haufman, Carol Taylor and Roxanne Taylor; daughter, Debbie, of North Carolina; son-in-law, Teddy Phillips, of Morgantown; and sister Barbara Helms, of West Palm Beach, Fla.
In addition to her parents, Louise was preceded in death by her husband, James; her daughter, Emma Jean; her son-in-law, Allen Swanson; brothers, OB and Bobby Cottrell; sisters, Jean, Maxine, Evelyn and Onita; nephew, Junior Taylor; and niece, Roseanna Clise.
There will be no public visitation. Family and friends are invited to attend a graveside committal service at the Lawnwood Cemetery in Morgantown, at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 22, officiated by Pastor Ernie Rowan.
The family requests that no flowers be sent, and instead, contributions in her memory be made to the Shack Neighborhood House.
Smith Funeral & Cremation Care of Westover/Morgantown is providing care and guidance to the family.
Condolences:
www.smithfcc.com
