Arthur J. Shera

Arthur "Art" Shera was the only son of Herbert Arthur Shera and Selma Pierson Shera. He was born in New York City and grew up in East Rutherford, N.J. He attended Rutherford High School, where he was president of the Future Teachers of America as well as the star tuba player in the marching band.
He was drafted into the Army in 1953 and was stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas. There, at a Luther League dance at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, he met his future bride, JoAnn Tucker. They were married in July 1956.
After leaving the military, Art earned his Master of Education degree from Texas Western College (now UTEP). He began teaching history and physical education, and spent over 30 years as a teacher and then an assistant principal with the El Paso Independent School district. He was known fondly as "Mr. Sheriff."
After retirement, Art continued to serve on the board of directors of the Texas Retired Teachers Association for many years.
He had a dry sense of humor that you might miss if you weren't listening carefully. His meeting minutes were peppered with one-liners and comic references. He also had a fondness for broad puns and shaggy-dog stories.
He enjoyed travel, and our family history includes camping trips all over the western United States in a pop-up tent trailer. He and JoAnn took many trips to exotic places near and far: Mexico, Hawaii, Switzerland (to see their first grandson baptized), New Zealand, Canada and Kenya (where he helped his second grandson with his Eagle Scout project).
He and JoAnn spent many happy hours at their cabin in Timberon, New Mexico; Chateau Shera. He was happiest when he was busy, and there was always something that needed fixing or tending at their mountain getaway.
He played the piano, and particularly enjoyed playing Beethovan's Moonlight Sonata and Liszt's Liebestraum. Even when he no longer played, he still enjoyed music and took JoAnn to concerts whenever an opportunity presented itself.
He liked baseball, "Wheel of Fortune" and Leo's Mexican Food. And he enjoyed studying the Bible with the United Methodist Men at St. Paul's Methodist Church.
In his 83 years he wore many hats and touched many lives. And lit up many a room.

"Let your light so shine before men that they may see
your good works and glorify
your Father who is in heaven." --Matthew 5:16