Shawhan, Jessie Lee Austin

Jessie Lee Austin Shawhan, age 92, of Blacksburg, passed away on January 8, 2014. The youngest of eleven children, Jessie Lee was born in Abingdon, Va. on January 10, 1921 to Laura Catherine Freidinger Austin and Joseph B. Austin.

Jessie Lee grew up in Roanoke and graduated from Jefferson High School in 1938. Jessie Lee married Daniel G. Shawhan, a graduate of VPI. They have recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. Her married life included living in exotic places such as Havana, Cuba; Miami, Florida and San Juan, Puerto Rico. She returned to her beloved Blue Ridge Mountains upon retirement, fulfilling a life-long dream of having a home in these mountains.

Jessie Lee was a devoted mother, wife, grandmother, sister, daughter and friend. She was an extraordinary hostess and always warmly welcomed friends and family into her home. She loved her family and her pets above all else. A fun loving and loyal friend, Jessie Lee was the hub of her circle of friends wherever she lived.

She is survived by her husband, Daniel G. Shawhan, her five children, Katherine Shawhan Pinkerton, Laura Lee Shawhan, Ann Morris Shawhan, Daniel Joseph Shawhan, Janice Austin Shawhan-Martin, her 6 grandchildren and her 3 great grandchildren.

Services will be conducted Saturday, January 11, 2014 at 11:00am in the Chapel at Evergreen Burial Park, Roanoke.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Carilion Hospice, 701 Randolph St., Suite 110, Radford, Va. 24141, or to Warm Hearth Village Foundation, 2387 Warm Hearth Drive Blacksburg, Va. 24060, Montgomery County Humane Society, HSMC P.O. Box 287, Blacksburg, Va. 24063, will be greatly appreciated.

Arrangements by McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg.