Jean Romaine Shade, 86, of Myerstown, PA went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, June 8, 2017. She was the wife of Allen L. Shade.

Born on June 20, 1930, Jean was the daughter of the late Merit E. and Mary C. (Lingle) Gesford. Jean grew up on her family's farm in Hershey, PA. She and her sister JoAnn joined the Al Shade show in 1953 as the Gesford Sisters. Jean later married Al on September 18, 1955, together as a couple they continued a lifelong commitment to preserving traditional country music. Their famous quote was "We're country and proud of it!" Jean continued to be a part of the Al & Jean Shade Radio Show, doing commercials, singing, and recording cart's and records. Jean was also a song writer and outstanding yodeler, one of the best loved songs she wrote was "Forever and a Day". She enjoyed singing harmony on songs with her husband, and recorded on 20 record albums in Nashville Tennessee. Jean and Al performed with many famous entertainers over the years and Jean was a featured vocalist in thousands of personal appearances. Along with her many talents Jean handled all the book work and still made time to do the most important job to her, being a homemaker. She will be remembered by family and friends for always having a beautiful smile on her face and a song in her heart.

In addition to her husband, Jean is survived by a son, Faron L. Shade of Allentown and a daughter, Debra A. (Shade) Glassmoyer, wife of William R., Jr. of Newmanstown; 4 grandchildren; 2 great grandchildren; a sister, JoAnn (Gesford) Gettle, wife of Bruce of Mt. Gretna; a brother, Earl B. Gesford, husband of Betty of Hershey; also several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by 4 siblings, Charles B. Gesford, William C. Gesford, Merit E. Gesford, Jr., and Janet G. Gesford.

A memorial service will be held at 12 noon on Saturday, August 26, 2017 at Friedens Lutheran Church, 301 W. Washington Ave., Myerstown, PA 17067. A visitation will be held prior to the service from 11-12 at the church. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations in memory of Jean to be made to the Dementia Society of America, P.O. Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901 or donate on line at dementiasociety.org. Thompson Funeral Home, Inc. is entrusted with the arrangements. Please share your thoughts and memories with the family at our online guest book at www.thompsonfuneralhomelebanon.com