Darrel "Dean" Shea

Darrel “Dean” Shea, 87, passed away on April 12, 2023 at the Walla Walla Veterans Home, surrounded by family. He was born on February 8, 1936 to Clarence A. and Olga G. (McCauley) Shea in Dayton, Washington; he was one, of four sons.

Dean was the first born of twin boys, his twin was named Gean, and he had two older brothers, Roy and Wayne. The “Shea” boys were well known in Dayton as mischievous, but they learned to be hard workers at an early age. After Dean’s twin was killed in a tragic motorcycle accident, Dean moved to Everett to finish high school, and followed in his brothers’ leads by joining the USAF, which he served meritoriously for twenty years. After retirement, the first one, he was employed by the City of Waitsburg, the USPS, and his final employment was with the Washington State Penitentiary, retiring in 1998. While he was married to Marie, they had five children and traveled to various places of duty as assigned by the Air Force, some of which included Spain, Germany and England. Dean enjoyed playing pool with various pool leagues after his retirement, as well as traveling to casinos to gamble on the slot machines. He was a lifelong member of various American Legion organizations as well as the Dayton Eagles and the VFW in Walla Walla.

Dean is survived by his daughters, Jeanne (David) Bergevin, Catherine Ungerecht, Elizabeth (John) Alleman; sons, Thomas (Teresa) Shea, Matthew Shea; seven grandsons; three granddaughters; three great-grandsons; three great-granddaughters; and several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Tom and Bertha Shea, with whom he lived from the age of three until adulthood; both of his parents, Clarence and Olga Shea; all three of his brothers; and his son-in-law, Cliff Ungerecht.

Dean’s wishes were not to have a public service, but instead a small, private, family gathering at a later date. Family and friends are invited to share memories of Dean and sign the online guestbook at http://www.mountainview-colonialdewitt.com.