Lawrence Paul Sheelsy

Lawrence Paul (Mac) Sheesley was born at home near Kendrick, Colorado, on November 30, 1924, to parents Paul and Willamette Sheesley. His family were victims of the “Dust Bowl”, and migrated to Idaho with short residences at Greeley, Colorado, and Cheyenne, Wyoming. Formative years were difficult because of a family breakup. His sister, Dorothy, stayed with their mother in Tacoma, WA and Mac, just short of 16 years, made the choice to live with his father in Boise, ID.

Paul provided the haven. Mac was taught to read good books—standard fare consisting of Dickens, Wodehouse, and Shakespeare. They talked politics, baseball, and their meals were “whatever we want; if we want pork chops some night, we can have them; if we don’t, we won’t, or if we just want to eat ice cream for supper, we will.”

He joined the Navy in 1942, and was attached to the Marine Corps. He participated in lands on Bougainville and Guam. Following discharge from the service, he attended Boise Jr. College and Colorado College on the G.I. Bill, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics in 1949.

He married Shirley Ellen Fowles, whom he loved since he saw her at a park when she was but a girl. After returning home for WW 2, they resumed their courtship with a civil marriage on March 8, 1946, later sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple. They were married 34 years. To this union were born two children: David Mark and Diane Carol. Shirley died from cancer on April 15, 1980.

November 1975, Mac was the second counselor in the Bishopric and the first to welcome a new family into the ward. Four years after this visit coupled with Shirley’s passing, Mac was sealed to Sharon McMullen Dixon in the Cardston Alberta Temple and later adopted Eric, Shannan, and Heather. Mac and Sharon have been married for 45 years. He leaves behind 11 beloved grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

Following college, Mac worked in the Boise Jr. College Counseling Center until its closing in June 1950. He then worked for the Department of Public Assistance for three years and the Idaho Transportation Department for 33 years, retiring at the end of 1986. Keeping active, he drove a school activities bus for eight years. He spent the next four years of “retirement” driving a Senior Citizens’ bus. After working with ITD and the Idaho State Legislature, he found absolute joy in both school sports and Senior Citizen activities.

He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 1958 until his death at the Idaho State Veterans Home, where he resided for almost one year. He has a powerful testimony of the Church and of Jesus Christ.

A graveside will beheld on Thursday, January 22, 2026 at 11:00 am at Dry Creek Cemetery located at 9600 N. Hill Road Boise, Idaho.  A celebration of life will will follow the graveside service at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 1:00 pm located at 2680 Hill Road Boise, Idaho. Condolences may be left for the family at www.bowmanfuneral.com