Kenneth Ray O'Shields, 72 went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday morning December 19th surrounded by his loving family.

A native and lifelong resident of Transylvania County, he was born May 9, 1943 in Rosman NC. He was the son of the late Elmer B. and Enville Chapman O'Shields. He was preceded in death by a great granddaughter McKenna Nicole Fisher.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, retired from Ecusta Corporation in 2000 after 37 years of service.

In 2001 he founded Cathey's Creek Electric and had planned to retire on December 31, 2015. He loved the lake and was an avid bass fisherman. He was a member and Past Master of Dunns Rock Masonic Lodge. This past October he was recognized for 50 years of service to the Lodge.

Most of all Kenneth loved the Lord. He was a member of Cathey's Creek Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and Sunday School teacher. He loved Gospel Music. He had been a gospel music promoter for the past 30 years. For the past 4 years he had co-hosted the TV show Down Home Gospel. It seemed everywhere he would go people would come up to him and tell him they watched him on Down Home Gospel.

He is survived by loving wife of 51 years Jean Bentley O'Shields, a daughter Stephanie O'Shields Clayton of Brevard, a son Joel O'Shields of Brevard, a granddaughter Jessica Fisher and husband Shane of Brevard, 3 great grandchildren Mikaylah, Hunter and Gage Fisher, 2 sisters, Barbara O'Shields Ricker and husband Dean of Easley, SC and Janice O'Shields Bryson of Brevard and numerous nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be Tuesday December 22nd at 2:00 p.m. at Cathey's Creek Baptist Church with Pastor Roger Smith, Pastor John North, Pastor Tony Lambert and Pastor Roger Boone officiating. Burial will follow at Cathey's Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church from 12:00pm-2:00 pm prior to the service.

Pallbearers will be Stephen Burress, Patrick Case, Shane Thompson, Dante Thompson, Mark Hooper, Dustin Edwards, Stanley Owen and George Owen. Nephews will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Flowers are welcome or memorials may be made to Catheys Creek Baptist Church Security System Fund – 58 Cathey's Creek Church Rd, Brevard, NC 28712.

Thanks to Dr. Gerald Martin, Transylvania Regional Hospital Hospice, Jan Bryson and Alan Aiken for their help and support.

On line condolences may be left at www.moodyconnollyfuneralhome.com

Moody-Connolly Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.