Essie Shields, 77, of 500 Short Street, Mt. Vernon, died Saturday at 12:40 p.m. at Good Samaritan Hospital.

She was born in Jefferson County on March 27, 1901, the daughter of John and Liza (Baker) Fleener.

On Aug. 27, 1921, she married William Wendell Shields, who preceded her in death in 1968.

Mrs. Shields was a member of the Baptist faith and worked for several years at the American Laundry in Mt. Vernon.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the Hughey Funeral Home with Rev. Ross Partridge officiating.Burial will be in West Salem Cemetery.Friends may call at the funeral home after 6 p.m. today.

Mrs. Shields is survived by three sons, William W. Shields of McLeansboro, Charles Shields and J.D. Shields, both of Mt. Vernon; 12 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Bill Fleener and Kay Fleener, both of Mt. Vernon; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, one son, Ivan Lee and her parents.

Source: Mt. Vernon Register News
Date: Monday, October 30, 1978
Submitted by Tonya (Lane) Jolly
Relationship - great-grandmother