A funeral will be held Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023 for 61-year-old Mark Ray Shields of Chester, Illinois, who passed away at 7 p.m., Saturday, November 11, 2023 at Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital, Ste. Genevieve, Missouri.
He was born September 18, 1962 in Kirkwood, Mo. son of James “Jim” Shields who preceded him in death and Sharon (nee Mueller) Shields who survives in Chester.
Mark married Judith “Judy” Radford on September 25, 1999 at Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church in Chester, Illinois; she survives in Chester.
He is also survived by a stepdaughter: Jodi Suhre (Jason Davis) Chester, IL
two siblings: James “Jay” (Dawn) Shields Dyer, Ind. and Denice (Mike) Atchison Chester, Ill.; a brother-in-law: Taylor “Tate” Search of Chester, Ill.; a godson: Tyler (Kacey) Search of Chester, Ill.;
a goddaughter: Celci (Adam) Logue of Cypress, Tex.: many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father: Jim Shields and a sister: Leah Search.
He had worked for the City of Chester at the water plant for over 20 years.
Mark was a member of Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church in Chester.
He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus No. 3790 in Chester.
Mark had been a coach for St. Mary’s basketball, an umpire for adult men’s league, a basketball referee, the head football referee and had his own football crew.
He was inducted into the USSSA Hall of Fame Umpire Category. He enjoyed sports and was an avid Chicago Cubs and Notre Dame fan.
Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at the Pechacek Funeral Home in Chester, Illinois and 10-11 a.m. Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at the Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church, Chester, Illinois.
A funeral mass for 61-year-old Mark Ray Shields of Chester, Illinois will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at the Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church, Chester, Illinois. Officiating: Msgr. Dennis Schaefer and Father Sebastian Ukoh.
Interment in the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Chester, Illinois.
Memorials may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic School, Valle Catholic Schools and American Diabetes Association.