May 19, 1943 – July 21, 2026
Kenneth Wayne Shields, age 83 of Sewanee, passed away on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at his residence surrounded by his loving family. A native of Franklin County, he was born in Cowan on May 19, 1943, to the late Grady and Anna Clair (Barnes) Shields. A welder by trade, Kenneth co-owned the Sewanee Sawmill with Houston King and had run heavy equipment for an asphalt company. He was also a well-known car mechanic. At the time of his retirement, he was employed at Tek-Tank, where he had been employed as a welder. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed working in his yard, whether it was being on the mower or cutting trees with his chainsaw, as well as fishing. In his younger years, he loved drag racing cars. Kenneth usually had country music playing and enjoyed watching Wheel of Fortune. But most of all, he cherished his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and had precious memories of the times he was able to pick them up from school or keep them when they were younger. Kenneth’s grandchildren will always recall him saying, “oh, okay,” to any request they had and think he might have jumped off a cliff with them if they had asked. All who knew him will remember him as a simple, good man who was soft-spoken with a gentle nature and forgiving heart and always saw the best in others. Kenneth loved the Lord and was a dedicated member of Sherwood Church of Christ. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Hailey Brooke Shields. Kenneth is survived by his loving and devoted wife of sixty-five years, Geneva Shields; sons, Greg Shields and Brian Shields and his wife Christy whom Kenneth loved as a daughter; grandsons, Andrew (Rachel) Shields and Daniel (Megan) Shields; granddaughter, Hannah (Andrew) Bowen; great-grandchildren, Baylor, Grayson, Cohen, Riley, and Gracie; and bonus blessing, Ginger Gulley. Visitation will be from 12-3pm on Friday, July 24, 2026, at Moore-Cortner Funeral Home. Funeral Services will follow at 3:00 pm in the Chapel of Moore-Cortner Funeral Home with Bro. Dewayne Stevens officiating. Interment will be at Franklin Memorial Gardens with Brian Shields, Andrew Shields, Daniel Shields, Andrew Bowen, Terry Pack, and Randy Nunley serving as pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Sherwood Church of Christ. Moore-Cortner Funeral Home, 300 First Ave NW, Winchester, TN 37398, (931)-967-2222, www.moorecortner.com.
