SOUTH PARIS — Harold G. Shaw Jr. lived for 85 years, and went to be with the Lord on Monday, May 2. Mr. Shaw’s health has been deteriorating over the past several years, and he has spent the past couple of weeks in and out of the hospital. His family has spent much time with him in his last days, at the Market Square Healthcare Facility.

Harold was born June 7, 1925, in South Paris, to Marion Simpson Shaw and Harold G. Shaw Sr. Harold had a younger sister, Mary Jean Armistead, and a younger brother, Murray, both of whom predeceased him.

Harold was an entrepreneur from age 5. He sold magazines up and down the street carrying them in a bag over his shoulder. Later he sold eggs and vegetables, and was involved in 4-H. He graduated from Paris High School in 1943, and then attended Providence Bible Institute in Providence, R.I. He married Joyce West, also of South Paris on May 29, 1948. They were married for almost 63 years.

Harold worked with his dad on his dairy farm while in high school, and then bought the adjoining farm and began milking cows on his own. Over the years, he developed a herd of registered Holstein cattle that were well-known across New England for high milk production and good type. Harold sold milk to the local Goodwins Dairy, and later on to Hoods Milk. He also sold breeding stock throughout New England, and some were even shipped overseas. He sold and installed farm equipment as well.

Harold was a long-time member of the South Paris Baptist Church, and served faithfully there as trustee, deacon and adult Sunday School teacher. The children there came to regard him as “the Candy Man,” as he usually had a pocketful of Canada Mints which he doled out to them. In recent years, he also attended Grace Baptist Church on Paris Hill.

Harold served for many years on the USDA Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Committee for Oxford County. He was a member of the American Tree Farm System. In 1985, the Paris Alumni Association honored him as businessman of the year. He twice received the Progressive Breeders Registry award from the Holstein Friesian Association of America. He also served on the board of directors of Glen Cove Christian Schools in Glen Cove.

Harold and his wife Joyce have four children, Stephen, Jaunita, James and David. Stephen, who passed away in 1996, has a son, Conrad, of Belgrade. Stephen later married Sally who has three children, Lori Gallan and her husband, Mike, of South Paris, Sue Merrill of Otisfield and Rob Merrill of South Paris. Harold’s daughter, Juanita Theriault and her husband, John, of Jaffrey, N.H., and have three children, Jason and his wife, Terri, also of Jaffrey, Amy of South Paris and Sarah Burdick and her husband, Mike, of South Paris. James and his wife, Janet, live in South Paris, and they have three children, Jared of South Paris, Tiffany of Waterford and Ben and his wife, Audrey, also of Waterford. David and his wife, Joy, have seven children, Aaron and his wife, Sue, of Highpoint, N.C., Christie and her husband, Robert, of South Paris, Mitchell and his wife, Brittany, of Denver, Colo., Autumn and her husband, Claudiu, of South Paris, Carrie, Micah and Nathanael, all of South Paris. Harold and Joyce have a total of 17 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.oxfordhillsfuneralservices.com.

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