Edward Blair Shaw

Edward Blair Shaw, of Endicott, New York, passed away on May 4, 2026, at the age of 82. His passing occurred just hours after the birth of his first grandson, Copper.
Ed was born on December 17, 1943, in Johnstown, PA, the son of the late Blair Shaw and Jean Shaw (née Elkin).
His story began in “Gas Center,” at the base of a steep mountain in rural Indiana County. Growing up in a stone house built by his father, Ed lived a quintessential mid-century rural life. His childhood was marked by butchering wild fare in the family kitchen, spending long summers on his grandfather’s goat farm in Clearfield County, and visiting his grandfather Elkin at Rehobeth Beach, Delaware. As a left-handed child, he was known for sneakily “borrowing” food from his sister Sue’s plate, and as a teenager, he roamed the woods with the “Youngblood Boys”—hunting grouse & rabbit. On rainy days, Ed could often be found at one of the local gas stations playing chess with the attendant who, despite having no arms, was a formidable opponent.
After graduating from United High School in 1961, Ed pursued a technical education at DeVry Technical Institute in Chicago, supported by the encouragement of his family.
Nancy Jean Morris was the love of Ed’s life. The two met at a sock hop in Johnstown, PA, and after a five-year courtship, they eloped at a small church in Maryland on March 18, 1967. This began a devoted 45-year partnership. After settling in Endicott, Ed and Nancy welcomed their only son, Jason. Both coming from large families, they made the intentional choice to have one child, seeking to devote the entirety of their love, attention, and energy to raising him.
Ed’s professional life was a testament to his adaptability. His career at IBM spanned over 25 years, where he took his work with intense seriousness—from programming circuit boards to debugging mainframes and overseeing quality assurance on large-scale systems.
However, the corporate restructuring and downsizing he witnessed in the early 1990s deeply affected him. Small business became a moral alternative to the corporate world for Ed. He went full-speed-ahead into the business that became Our Country Hearts, viewing his employees as family and tirelessly working to improve the business so he could do more for them. He found a special bond and partnership with Tommy James and Chris Alfarano, taking great pride in the idea that a small business could truly care for both its customers and its people.
Ed persevered through significant health challenges in his life, including kidney cancer, a heart attack, and a stroke. Ernest Hemingway once wrote that aging happens “gradually, then all at once,” and for Ed, the final six months brought a sudden tide of challenges, including falls, infections, and pneumonia. During this time, Jason moved in with his father to support his recovery, aided by the dedicated support of home healthcare aide Jasa Wagner. In his final days, Ed received compassionate care from the teams at Wilson Hospital and Willow Point Nursing Home.
In his later years, Ed found peace and connection through a meaningful companionship with Kathy Parsons. He spent many happy times attending Parsons family events and social engagements, as well as enjoying quiet evenings watching TV together.
He will be remembered as a man who rooted for the underdog, worked harder than most thought possible, and believed that loyalty to one’s family and community was the highest calling.
He is survived by his son, Jason Edward Shaw, and wife, Emily Elizabeth Shaw (née Brown); his grandson, Copper Brown Shaw, born on the day of Ed’s passing; his sisters Barbara, Betty, Peggy, and Sue; and many extended family and friends. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Nancy; his parents, Blair and Jean Shaw; and his sister, Cindy.
Visiting hours will be held Tuesday, May 26, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Allen Memorial Home.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Southern Tier Land Conservancy, a local conservation nonprofit Ed encouraged his son to help co-found. Donations may be mailed to P.O. Box 1112, Vestal, NY 13850.