Shields dies from complications of farm accident
By ROWENA PLETT
Staff writer
Carroll Shields, a Lincolnville farmer, died Sunday from complications suffered while recovering from an ATV accident July 20 while herding cattle.
Plans were being made to transfer the 50-year-old man to a rehabilitation center when he unexpectedly developed a high fever and went into cardiac arrest.
Carroll's wife, Kim, his partner for more than 19 years, said she has always thought of him as a "gentle giant." While known for being a big, strong man, he was a compassionate person and loved spending time with his family, she said.
He was resourceful and loved to work with his hands.
"One of the things everybody noticed was his hands," his sister-in-law Susan Carlson said. "He could do things that others couldn't do."
Kim said his high school class ring was size 17 1/2, which broke the record at Jostens. When their babies were born, he could carry them around in one hand.
His brother-in-law, Ronnie Carlson, said Carroll was one of the best mechanics he has ever known. Carroll and his brother Kenneth, together with their father Fred, overhauled and repaired their own equipment.
He also was a good woodworker. One of the first things he made for Kim was a set of Ash lamps. She said she picked out an Ash coffin in remembrance. He also built other furnishings for their home including an oak entertainment center, coffee table, shelves, and hope chest.
Carroll was involved in establishing tiled terraces, watersheds and other conservation practices on the farm. Shields Farms, Inc., has its own surveying and earth-moving equipment. The farm recently received the Continuation Award from Marion County Conservation District for having one of the longest established conservation programs in the county, beginning in 1947.
Kim said Carroll would take time away from work to do things with the family. One of his favorite activities was to take them camping at Council Grove Lake. He was an avid water skier.
"He was just a regular farmer when you watched him work," Kim said, 'but on skiis he was so graceful. The light radiated out of him."
His youngest daughter, Carissa, turned five years old July 31, a time when the family traditionally went camping.
It was a hard time for the family. One of Carroll's first requests when he gained consciousness in the hospital was "Can we get the boat?"
Carroll was teaching his sons, 15-year-old Gavin and 13-year-old Heath, how to weld and fix lawn mowers. Once, he and Gavin built a fort together.
His compassionate nature shown through when one time he found a half-eaten calf in the pasture. He began crying as he told Kim about it.
She said he wasn't one to complain or talk bad about others.
"He didn't have a lot of money, but would do anything for anybody."
The Shields have two other children, Allison, 10, and Brenna, 6.
After the accident, Carroll was flown to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, where he regained consciousness after five days. He was clear-minded and alert, but had a tracheotomy and was on a ventilator, making it difficult to communicate.
Even so, he did manage to do so and never complained.
"He was joking with us," Susan said, "and he loved to hear people talking about farming."
"I want people to know the kind of man he was," Kim said. "He's not one you'll find very often."
A public memorial service is planned at 7 p.m. today at Eastmoor United Methodist Church in Marion. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. John's Lutheran Church in Lincolnville.
