Grafton – Rebecca L. (Ridge) Shearn, 69, of Grafton, formerly of West Chester, Ohio, died Monday, Sept. 18, 2017 in Milford Regional Hospital in Milford, surrounded by her loving family.
Rebecca was born in Fostoria, Ohio, daughter of the late Rex E. and Margaret (Moates) Ridge. She graduated from Bucyrus High School, attended the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, and out of college, worked as a fashion designer for Bobbie Brooks Fashions. In May 1967, she and Daniel T. Shearn went on a “blind date” and fell in love the first time they held hands. They were married Aug. 30,1969, while still in college, and so began their adventures, moving to Pennsylvania, Germany, Michigan, Masschusetts, and Ohio, before retiring and returning to Massachusetts to live closer to their daughter and granddaughters, after the death of their 5-year-old grandson, Aidan.
Professionally, Rebecca traded fashion design for interior design. She purchased and operated a Decorating Den franchise in Medway before she and Daniel purchased the Ohio and Northern Kentucky Region of the company. Rebecca’s name was nationally known throughout the Decorating Den family and in the interior design and decorating industry. Earning the respect and admiration of many of her colleagues, she was honored twice as “Decorator of the Year,” and made the cover of several design and decorating magazines and journals. Yet, her greatest joy was always her family, and in her retirement, her life’s mission was to make lasting memories with her precious grandchildren, while being “the BEST Nano ever.” (As with everything Rebecca set out to do, she excelled.)
Becky’s love lives on in the hearts of her family, including her husband of 48 years, Dan; their children, Regina N. Garvey and her husband Joshua of Upton and Brandon C. Shearn and his wife Marie of West Chester, Ohio; her four cherished grandchildren, Ava, Ella, Jakoby, and her angel in heaven, Aidan; her siblings, Ronald Ridge and his wife Jean of Williamsburg, Mich. and Timothy Ridge and his wife Jo Ann of Bucyrus, Ohio. She also leaves behind her loving in-laws, many nieces and nephews, and wonderful relatives and friends.
A visitation with Rebecca’s family was held Sept. 25 in the Britton-Shrewsbury Home. Her funeral was held Sept. 26, with a funeral Mass celebrated in Saint Mary Parish of Shrewsbury and burial at Lakeview Cemetery in Upton.
Donations may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in memory of Rebecca Shearn and sent to Terri Staroska, LLS, 404 BNA Dr., Building 200, Suite 102, Nashville, TN 37217.
