Anna Shearer
1933-2026
Anna Shearer, 92, died peacefully on October 26, 2026, at her daughter’s home in Maryland and surrounded by her family. She was a long-time Berkeley Springs resident and active member of the community.
Born December 11, 1933, Anna was originally from Osijek, Croatia. In 1944, she was evacuated from the former Yugoslavia with her mother and only brother. About a month later, her father fled to join the family in Hungary. They quickly moved to Austria where they stayed during the remainder of World War II. Due to political unrest in Yugoslavia, they were unable to return home after the war and lived in Austria as displaced persons before coming to the United States as refuges in 1951.
Anna and her family eventually settled in Washington, D.C., where she met her husband, James Shearer. Anna had been an assistant buyer in the jewelry department of the Hecht Company before starting several businesses with Jim. They refinished furniture and had large contracts with universities, hospitals, hotels, and federal agencies throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. In the 1960s, they began manufacturing camping trailers in Chambersburg, Pa. By the early 1970s, they transitioned their business to focus on camper tops and moved to Berkeley Springs, W.Va., where they raised their three daughters.
Anna had a thirst for knowledge and valued education. Because she and her husband wanted to set an example for their children, the couple enrolled in night classes at Berkeley Springs High School and earned their GEDs.
Anna was an involved parent and had served as an active volunteer in the local Band Boosters, regional director for the Parent-Teacher Association, Girl Scout troop leader, and service unit director for the Shawnee Girl Scout Council.
Anna taught a generation of Morgan County children how to swim through her volunteerism as a Red Cross swim instructor. She was a past chairman and treasurer of the Morgan County American Red Cross; a former board member of the Potomac Center, in Romney, W.Va.; past president of the WV Community Educational Outreach Service (CEOS) Council and Hemlock CEOS club; and a 50-year member of GFWC WV Women’s Club of Berkeley Springs, serving as a past president, past GFWC WV Eastern District president, and a lifetime member of GFWC West Virgina.
Anna’s happiest memory was coming to the United States. She became a naturalized citizen and was an extremely patriotic American who placed great importance on civic responsibility. She served as a poll worker during elections and was past president of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 60. In the late 1990s, Anna assisted the WV Development Office International Division and other community groups with settling multiple refugee families following the war and breakup of the former Yugoslavia.
Anna was proud to be a West Virginian and deeply honored when she was selected as the Morgan County Belle in 2006 for her community leadership. Each county selects a Belle who embodies the pioneer spirit as part of the annual West Virginia State Folk Festival.
Among her many talents, Anna was an expert quilter and mastered sewing, knitting and crocheting as a young child. She was an avid reader and loved traveling. In their younger years, Anna and her husband were passionate adventure seekers. While her husband was a private pilot and flew them for day excursions, Anna took formal training to captain their recreational boating trips. The couple also enjoyed auto racing and attended the Indy 500 for over 50 years.
Anna had been a long-time parishioner of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and past treasurer of the Alter and Rosary Society.
Anna is survived by daughter Angela Shearer and son-in-law Matt Payne, of Berwyn Heights, Md.; daughter Theresa Eisenman, son-in-law Eric Eisenman and granddaughter Ava, of Potomac, Md.; and daughter Kathleen Lieberson, son-in-law Matt Lieberson and granddaughters Sara and Megan, of Damascus, Md. She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Shearer; her brother Florian Rettig; and her parents Johann and Maria Rettig.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 a.m. on Monday, November 23, 2026, at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 67 Liberty Street, Berkeley Springs, W.Va. Burial will be at Bethel Cemetery following the Mass. The family will receive friends on Sunday, November 22 at Helsley-Johnson Funeral Home, 95 Union Street, Berkeley Springs, W.Va. from 1-3 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. with a prayer service held at 6 p.m.
Following the committal prayers at the cemetery, everyone is invited back to Paul Niner Hall at the Catholic church for a luncheon.
Anna strongly believed in community service and helping those in need. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in her memory to the Woman’s Club of Berkeley Springs c/o P.O. Box 183, Berkeley Springs, WV 25411 or a charitable organization of your choice.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.helsleyjohnsonfh.com.
