Back to News ReleasesShearer's Foods Mourns the Passing of Rosemary "Grandma Shearer"
06/21/2008
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Wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, business partner and friend…Rosemary Shearer of Canton, Ohio was an inspiration to everyone who knew her. Born to the late Raymond J. McMahon, Sr. and Ruth M. (Warth) McMahon on April 20, 1925 in Massillon, Ohio, Rosemary passed away at home surrounded by her loving family on June 20, 2008, at the age of 83. Rosemary graduated from Mt. Marie High School and attended Notre Dame College in Cleveland. She worked for the Massillon AAA before her marriage to Jack Shearer on April 22, 1950. The couple were lifelong partners in family and in business.
From the mid-1950’s, Jack and Rosemary worked side-by-side in the three-generation family grocery store business, Shearer’s Market, located on the corner of 9th and Dartmouth in Canton. The couple eventually purchased the market from Jack’s father in 1961. In 1974, Jack and Rosemary, along with their sons Bob and Tom, founded Shearer’s Foods, the manufacturer/distributor of Shearer’s Award-Winning Snacks. As a family, the Shearer’s earned the loyalty of their snack food customers just like they earned the loyalty of their grocery store customers—through hard work, honesty, integrity and outstanding service. Encouraged by their success, the Shearer’s began manufacturing their own "hand-cooked" potato chips from a kettle in 1979, and Rosemary become famous as the grandmotherly figurehead for the Grandma Shearer’s brand snacks. From those humble family beginnings, Shearer’s Foods has become the nation’s leading manufacturer of kettle-cooked potato chips, honored for its continued growth, manufacturing excellence, outstanding customer service, new products, human resources practices, environmental practices, and community service. Rosemary served as Secretary/Treasurer.
In 1989, the couple turned the company’s leadership over to their sons, and focused their attention on racing their Standardbred horses.
Rosemary will be fondly remembered for her commitment to her community as a member of St. Mary’s Church in Massillon, the East Central Ohio Foods Dealers Women’s Auxiliary, the Women’s Club of Massillon and the Massillon Club.
Left to cherish her memory are her husband of 58 years, Jack R. Shearer; children Robert J. (Melissa) Shearer of Canton; Susan Marie (Roger, Sr.) Self of Youngstown; and Thomas N. (Kathy) Shearer of Canton; brothers Robert L. (Norma) McMahon of Massillon and Dr. Raymond J. (Julie) McMahon, Jr. of Canton; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Rosemary’s passion for life and her devotion to her husband and family will long be remembered.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at St. Mary’s Church in Massillon. Interment will be in Rose Hill Cemetery in Massillon, Ohio. Friends may call from 2:00-4:00 p.m. and 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Monday, June 23, 2008 at Paquelet Funeral Home, 1100 Wales Road NE, Massillon, Ohio (330-833-3222). In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Rosemary Shearer’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater East Ohio Chapter, 4815 Munson Street NW, Canton, Ohio 44718 (330-966-7343) or Hospice of Stark County, 3611 Whipple Avenue NW, Canton, Ohio 44718 (330-493-0126).
A message of support and sympathy can be sent to
www.paquelet.com.