Ferris Dale Shaw

Ferris Dale Shaw was born March 31, 1943 in DeFuniak Springs, Florida and left this earth on November 9, 2020 to join his parents, Fred D. and Ella Mae Shaw, and his sister Edna Faye Shaw Michal in the folds of heaven.  Ferris passed away at the family home in Niceville, Florida from complications of Parkinson’s Disease.   His service will be held on November 16, 2020 at McLaughlin Funeral Home in Niceville Florida, with interment at Early Cemetery, also in Niceville.

Ferris is survived by his wife, Sue, of the home, his daughter Jennifer Shaw Cooper (husband Rick Cooper) and his son Darren Shaw (wife Mylene Shaw), both of Broken Arrow, OK. He is also survived by his sister, Margie Maiden (husband Danny of Sevierville, Tennessee) and his brother Fred Shaw (wife Alma of El Paso, TX.) 

In addition, he is survived by grandchildren, Andy, Mitchell, Joey & Elizabeth Foster and Daniel Shaw and great-grandchildren, Bella and Abbi Foster and his step-children Kevin, Jeff, and Johnny Ray Barnett (all of whom reside in Oklahoma), three step-grandchildren Jessica, Jamie and Paige. Also survived by, two sisters in law, Linda Burk and Letha Hoffman.  He is also remembered by his numerous nieces and nephews.

Ferris was a veteran and served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War, stationed in Germany.  He was employed by Rockwell International in Tulsa, OK for over 35 years and retired in 1998 when he moved back to Niceville.  Ferris was very proud of the time he spent at Rockwell working on the space program and saw the fruits of his labor when the first space shuttle went into orbit.  His division of Rockwell was an integral part of the NASA space program and he worked on that program for many years.  He also was “loaned out” to Boeing in Seattle, Washington to assist them with multiple aerospace projects.

Ferris was a 1961 graduate of Choctawhatchee High School where, due to a teenage joke, he was nicknamed Honey Bee (or just plain Bee).  In Tulsa, he was nicknamed “Red” in reference to his rust colored beard.  But to the family, he was just Ferris - a son, brother, father, husband, grandfather, and great grandfather. 

When his health permitted, Ferris loved the water, especially riding around Boggy Bayou. He was a 55-year member of the Masonic Lodge, a volunteer for Meals on Wheels and donated many hours to Amvets and the American Legion.  He loved to spend time with his friends at The Hurricane, where they spent countless hours discussing the issues of the world.  Ferris was a friend to many people who came in and out of his life.  He never met a stranger and was always willing to help his fellow man.

The family wishes to thank all the care givers and friends who were a part of his final journey. 

A visitation will be held Monday November 16, 2020 from 10:00 – 11:00 am at McLaughlin

Twin Cities Funeral Home & Cremations in Niceville.  The service will follow the visitation beginning at 11:00.  Interment will be in Early Cemetery. 

Ecclesiastes 3:2; To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven; a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to break down and a time to build up; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time mourn and a time to dance…

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