Nanci Ann Shaw-Corthorn's Obituary
NANCIE BURGESS SHAW-CORTHORN February 19, 1919 to May 10, 2006 Nancie was one of five children. She was born February 19, 1919 at the family home on Calle Arroyo, Diablo,California . She was raised at the family ranch called 'The Homestead' on Hacienda Drive inWalnut Creek . Today, it is a Historical Landmark and has even been a Bed and BreakfastInn . Nancie was the loving Granddaughter of Mary Helen Novel Burgess and Rev. Joshua Chase Burgess of Nova Scotia,. Joshua became the pastor of the Presbyterian Church inDanville in 1884. She was also Granddaughter of Francis Webster Fish and Irving Webster Fish ofMartinez , an early developer of the region. Loving daughter of Anne Fish Burgess and Robert Nobel Burgess Sr., who was a well-known farmer/rancher in the area. R.N. began developing properties in Alameda andContraCostaCounties after the 1906 earthquake. He was, also, instrumental in getting the Oakland Antioch Eastern Railroad extended to various Central Contra Costa locations and entered shipbuilding at Port Chicago during WW II. Nancie attended finishing school at Anna Heads inOakland and was a very civic-minded person. She was a member of California Mayflower Society, Navy League, Lawyer Wives, Mt Diablo Therapy Center, Children's Hospital Auxiliary, Art andGardenCenter , and the Diablo Cotillion. Her pleasures in life included playing tennis, traveling with close friends and making ice cream on hot summer days The only recipe she had was for peach, her favorite and her family always wanted more than the quart container could produce. Nancie survived three husbands in death and is survived by her two children, Gerrit Lansing Keane Jr. of Evergreen, Colorado and Katherine Ann Keane of Martinez, California and two grandchildren, Eric Lansing Keane and Heidi Ann Keane ofColorado . After her husband Capt. George Shaw (USN) passed away on December 18, 2001, Nancie lived with Katherine until her death following a long illness.
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