Clio's Jon Shehane touched many lives

Editor's note: The three men who killed Quenette Shehane were students at Daniel Payne College and not Samford as previously reported. Miss Shehane was a student at Birmingham-Southern. The Tribune regrets the errors.

Most of us who knew Jon (Yon) Shehane in high school had not seen him for 30-40 years. However, his character, charm, and humility were embedded in our memories, and we were captivated by his magnetic personality.

Last Tuesday, many of us learned he had succumbed to cancer. He had fought this disease since May.

Jon grew up in the Clio/Blue Springs area, was a star football player in high school, and a graduate of Barbour County High School in 1971.  Although, he tended to be a bit shy, that was a reflection of his extreme modesty from his school achievements; a clue to his future accomplishments.

He attended Auburn University from 1971-1978 and obtained a bachelor’s degree in microbiology and a master’s in food microbiology.

He worked for Oscar Mayer from 1985 until 1990. While at OM he was credited with developing the first light hot dog.

He later worked for Sara Lee and then became an official with AdvancePierre Foods until his death.

From 2007-2009 he acquired an ActionCoach franchise where he became a certified business coach and helped hundreds in the development and success of their businesses.

His accomplishments were many and his inspiration could have come from no other place than from his family.  Growing up as the only boy with two younger sisters - Quennette and Sonja - his educational and religious values were ingrained in him by his parents, Miriam and Ed Shehane of Clio. 

However, his strength was tested when tragedy struck his family while he was attending Auburn University.  His sister, Quenette, who attended Birmingham-Southern, was horrifically murdered as she was preparing to come home for the Christmas holidays by three guys attending the same school, Daniel Payne in Birmingham. 

His mother and father mirrored the same strength they instilled in their children as they pursued justice for their daughter which resulted in making certain that future victims of such tragedies were given as many rights as that of the criminal.

Jon leaves behind a legacy of accomplishments, a beautiful wife, five children and six grandchildren.  He will be missed and remembered. If there is any comfort from his loss, it’s the knowledge that he and his sister have reunited.