William “Billy” West

William “Billy” West, 89, of Atlanta, who died on December 20, 2011. He was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, the Rev. Frances McQuarie West. He is survived by his daughters, Jean Alhadeff of Atlanta, Nina West (Steve Addison) of Atlanta, and Aran West of Syracuse, New York; son, Todd West (Rebecca) of Florence, Alabama, and 6 grandchildren. Billy was born and raised in McCurtain, Oklahoma. He served in the U.S. Army Air Force 1943-1945, earned a BS degree from the University of Oklahoma and served in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Public Health Service. He earned his MA/Mycology from Vanderbilt University, and worked as Research Mycologist for CDC, U.S. Public Health Service, Atlanta until 1956. He was a microbiologist for CDC in Atlanta from 1961 to 1972, earning his PhD in Microbiology from the University of Oklahoma in 1962 retiring in 1972. He and his wife then attended Georgia State University earning masters degrees in Community Counseling. Bill and his family were long time members of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation.

A memorial service was held on Saturday, March 31, 2012 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, 1911 Cliff Valley Way NE, Atlanta, Ga. 30329. Donations may be made in lieu of flowers to the William Joseph West Endowment fund, c/o: Eastern Oklahoma State Foundation, 1301 W. Main, Wilburton, Oklahoma 74578 or to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, 1911 Cliff Valley Way NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30329.

The Rev. Wells E. Behee

Mary Evelyn Newhall Behee and Welles E. Behee

The Rev. Wells E. Behee, 86, died Dec. 15, 2011 as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident on Dec. 13 2011, which took the life of his wife. He was a native of Lynn, MA and a fifth generation Universalist. Wells earned his BA from St. Lawrence University and his M.Div. from St. Lawrence Theological School. A veteran of World War II, he saw action at Iwo Jima. He served UU churches in Woodstock, Eldorado and New Madison. He earned his M.Ed. at Miami University in Oxford, OH and went on to teach high school at Arcanum. He served as special education coordinator at Mansfield. He was a scoutmaster and coached his children in Olympic marathon canoeing. He enjoyed classical music, art, literature, genealogy and gardening. The Behees are survived by their five children: Kathy Becker, Karyl Parks, Kris Rantz, Emerson Behee, Karen Fageol, their spouses, six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. They were predeceased by their grandson, Aaron Dean Rawlings. The Behees donated their bodies to the Anatomical Gift Program at Wright State University.

Mary Evelyn Newhall Behee

Mary Evelyn Newhall Behee and Welles E. Behee

Mary Evelyn Newhall Behee, 85, wife of the Rev. Wells Behee, died Dec. 13, 2011 in a traffic accident, near New Madison, OH. The crash also took the life of her husband of 62 years. A native of Lynn, MA, Mary graduated from Salem Teachers College, and received a certificate of religious education from St. Lawrence Theological School. She earned her teaching credentials from Miami University. She taught many years at Franklin Monroe Elementary School. She was a doll collector, an avid gardener and a supporter of the New Madison Friends of the Library. She was active in Universalist and UU churches in New Madison and Eldorado. Mary was beloved by an extended family. She was known for her caring nature and her sunny disposition. Their family says Wells and Mary were best friends who enjoyed traveling together.

The Rev. Lawrence M. Hamby

Larry Hamby

The Rev. Lawrence M. Hamby, 85, died August 28, 2011 in Athens, GA. He was a native of Atlanta. He held degrees from Emory University and Tufts University’s Crane Theological School. Larry served the Community Church of New Orleans, which ordained him. He also served the Unitarian Congregational Society of Grafton, MA; the Unitarian Church of Harrisburg, PA; and the All Souls Unitarian Church of Augusta, ME. In later years, he was a chaplain in the Civil Air Patrol of the Air Force in Brunswick, GA. He was the Membership and Growth Chair for the Unitarian Universalists of Coastal Georgia. He also served on the board of UURMaPA. Larry will be remembered as a very generous supporter of our association. He managed our list serve SpeakUP until the time of his death.

David W. Walker-Riggs

David Walker-Riggs

David W. Walker-Riggs, 80, husband of the Rev. Judith Walker-Riggs, died Aug. 2, 2011, after a gentle week in hospice in Las Cruces, NM. A graduate of the University of Vermont, he was a career diplomat in the Foreign Service. Having been a preacher’s kid, a diplomat and a minister’s spouse he found a role as the “loyal, ever-present right-hand man.” Thus there was no conflict or confusion about his and Judith’s roles. In retirement he enjoyed cooking and “life, love and laughter with Judith.” He described Las Cruces as the “Land of Enchantment.” The Walker-Riggs served congregations in Manhasset, NY; Cedar Rapids, IA; London, UK; Devon, PA; West Hartford, CT; Grand Rapids, MI; and El Paso, TX. Following retirement from the diplomatic service, David fulfilled his curiosity about other ways of life, working as a hardware store clerk, temporary worker for a law firm, and as a delivery driver for an international courier firm. He enjoyed being the other side of the desk for a change. He is survived by his wife and three children: Steven Riggs and James and Iain Urquhart.

The Rev. Dr. Wayne Shuttee

Wayne Shuttee

The Rev. Dr. Wayne Shuttee, 93, died June 22, 2011. He graduated from the University of Missouri and Meadville Theological School with a Bachelor of Divinity degree. He served the First UU Church in Cleveland, OH, where he was ordained; the West Shore UU Church of Cleveland, OH, where he served as their first minister; and at the Unitarian Society of New Haven in Hamden, CT, where he served for thirty years. Following his retirement he served as interim minister for a dozen UU churches. He was named minister emeritus at the Unitarian Society of New Haven, in Hamden, CT, where he was also a member. He was active over the years in several community organizations in the New Haven area such as the Yale-New Haven Hospital, the New Haven Youth and Family Services Association, and New Haven Reads Community Book Bank, where he volunteered three times a week running the front desk and packing book orders. He also served on many association boards. Wayne is survived by his wife of almost 64 years, Patricia (Wuliger) Shuttee. He was predeceased by their son, Timothy.

Mary Margaret Cline Schug

Philip and Mary Schug

Mary Margaret Cline Schug, 92, the widow of the Rev. Philip C. Schug, died January 13, 2011. During her college years she worked for Sears and she also built 35 mm guns during WWII. The Schugs served congregations in Urbana-Champaign, IL; Lincoln, NE; and San Antonio, TX. Mary volunteered in the churches Phil was serving while rearing two daughters. In San Antonio she worked as a lapidary and made jewelry. She was a member of the Rock and Lapidary Club, River Art Group, Craft Guild and Fiesta Commission. She is survived by her two daughters.

Mary Weston-Jones

Mary Weston-Jones, 70, wife of the Rev. Dick Weston-Jones, died peacefully at home December 11, 2010, after fighting breast cancer for 13 years. She was an elementary school counselor in Illinois and Florida, and a high school vocational counselor in California. In 1968 she was expelled from her Southern Baptist Church in Starkville, MS for asking the pastor if black people could be invited to worship with them. That led to her becoming UU four years later in State College, PA, where she married Dick. She showed tremendous courage during her illness, which never went into remission; she outlived all predictions. She arranged for infusion therapy at various hospitals as she and Dick traveled widely during the past 12 years. Her last trip was in October to the ocean. She drove the Virginia Beach boardwalk in her power wheelchair and savored her favorite food, deep-fried oysters. She is survived by her husband, Dick, by six children, two foster children and 21 grandchildren.

The Rev. Dr. Mary J. Harrington

Mary Harrington

The Rev. Dr. Mary J. Harrington, 58, died at home October 26, 2010, after a courageous struggle with ALS. She attended Middlebury College and graduated from William James College of Grand Valley State University with a BS in Social Ethics and Social Relations. She was executive director of Home Hospice of Sonoma County (CA).

She earned her M. Div. from Starr King. She served UU churches in Santa Rosa, CA; Houston, TX; Marblehead and Winchester, MA. Her last congregation named her minister emerita. In the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, she co-founded and served as president of Gulf Coast Volunteers for the Long Haul. She led 14 trips to the area, many from a wheelchair.

Mary delivered the sermon at the Service of the Living Tradition at the 2009 GA in Salt Lake City. She was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Sacred Theology from Starr King for her outstanding service as a parish minister and her inspiring leadership as president of Gulf Coast Volunteers for the Long Haul.

She is survived by her beloved husband of 30 years, Martin Teitel, her children, Julia & Samuel Teitel, and her stepson, Jason Teitel.

The Rev. Nancy J. Haley

Nancy Haley

The Rev. Nancy J. Haley, 66, died August 27, 2010. She earned bachelor‘s degrees in English and German literature and a Master of Arts in Theater & Costume Design at the U. Minnesota. She went on to earn her M.Div. at Harvard, after having taught ESL for the Minneapolis public schools for ten years. Nancy was a freelance writer and film and video producer for nearly 25 years. As a member of Unity Church Unitarian in St. Paul, she created images for Our Whole Lives. She served as interim minister at Third Church Unitarian of Chicago and then was called to serve the UU Society of Iowa City. She then served Second Unitarian Church of Omaha. She served on the board of the Prairie Star District from 2002-2008.

A colleague described her as, “lively and thought-provoking” and as “someone who could dare us to dream big.” Nancy is survived by her loving partner of 21 years, Tom Johnson, her son, Jon Haley, and his wife Monica Singh; her daughter, Joanna Haley, two sisters and two nieces.