Saralee (Watts) Shields

Mrs. Saralee Watts Shields age 84 of Salem, passed away Monday, August 5 at Northwood in Salem.

Saralee Watts Shields was the daughter of Olive Dalton Watts and Roy Watts. She was born in Floyd County, Indiana on September 28, 1934. The family moved to Salem due to the infamous 1937 flood and stayed there for the remainder of their lives.

Saralee was a graduate of Salem Elementary School and Salem Washington Township High School, Class of 1952. She also attended Purdue University.

In 1963 Saralee married her childhood sweetheart, Norman Shields and they lived with their children around the United States during the final years that Norman was in the Air Force. When Norman retired the family moved back to Salem.

Saralee was a member of the First Christian Church Disciples of Christ in Salem, Indiana. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary. She worked over 30 years at Washington County Memorial Hospital, Salem. After her retirement, Saralee spent an untold number of hours volunteering at the Washington County Food Bank.

Survivors include her son Mark (Jill), Vincennes, IN, daughters Susan, Salem, Indiana, Sara, Wyoming; and grandchildren Stacy, Katherine, Moe, Becky, and Abby, and great grandchildren Norah and Ferris, as well as nieces, and nephews and cousins. Preceding her in death are a son James Shields, husband, Norman Shields, her mother Olive Shrum and stepfather Charles Shrum, father Roy Watts and a sister Pauline (Jim) Roberts.

A memorial service will be held Friday at 6:00 P.M. at Weathers Funeral Home. Visitation will be Friday from 2:00 to 6:00 P.M. at the funeral home.

Memorial donations can be made to the Washington County Food Bank:  PO Box 128 Salem, Indiana 47167.