Florence Shannon Shearer; Owned Theater Business With Late Husband

Florence Shannon Shearer's once-bright red hair earned her the nickname, ``Reddy.''

Family members said she had the bright personality to match.

But as she advanced in years, she sometimes lamented that most of her friends had passed on.

Mrs. Shearer, who years ago helped her husband in a theater-equipment and independent theater-chain business, died Monday. She was 92.

Born in Belt, Mont., she was a young child when her family moved to a ranch in southern Idaho. After high school, she moved to Butte, Mont.

In 1919, she met Ben F. Shearer in Billings and the couple married, moving to Seattle in 1924.

Here, they operated a theater-equipment business, which over time came to include a chain of 11 independent theaters from California to Alaska, including Seattle's Varsity Theater in the University District and the Greenlake Theater.

``She helped him with that and it expanded,'' said the couple's son, B.F. Shearer Jr. of Oregon City, Ore.

Mr. Shearer died in 1972, and the businesses were sold.

In Seattle, Mrs. Shearer was a member of the Seattle Golf Club, Broadmoor and the Olive Roberts Orthopedic Guild.

Over the last 45 years, she had maintained homes here and in Palm Springs - spending six months here, six months there, said her son.

Here, she had lived in a Madison Park condominium for 15 years. In Palm Springs, where she also had a condo, she counted among her

close friends Dolores Hope, wife of comedian Bob Hope, her son said.

In Palm Springs, she was active in Thunderbird, O'Donnell, the Polo Club and Pathfinders of Palm Springs.

``She was a devout gardener and raised fine roses,'' he said. She also enjoyed golfing ``and was a fine bridge player,'' he said.

Perhaps, said her son, Mrs. Shearer enjoyed a long life ``because she had a tremendous will to live and she came from a long line of ancestors who lived to ripe old ages.

``But she had expressed some sadness that she outlived many of her friends.''

Besides her son, she is survived by her daughter, Sandra Hunt of Arcata, Calif., 17 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

A private service is planned. The family suggests remembrances to Virginia Mason Hospital or a favorite charity.