He’s singing with the angels now! William Marion Shields, also known as Bill Shields and affectionately called Babe Shields, was born on July 3, 1944, at the old Overall-Morris Hospital in Coleman. He passed away from an aggressive form of lymphoma cancer on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at the new Coleman County Medical Center in Coleman.

Bill was born to Vincent Darrel Shields and Willie McCain Shields and lived in Novice for a short time. The family, along with his two brothers, Tobe and Ed, later moved to Hamlin, where they lived until Bill’s junior year of high school. The family then moved to the oil fields of Midland, where Bill’s father worked for Sohio Petroleum. In 1962, Bill graduated from Garden City High School, where he met the love of his life, Sue Parker. The high school sweethearts married in 1964 and began their family, welcoming Michael Alan Shields and later William Todd Shields.

Bill worked as a pumper in the Sprayberry Oil Fields for several years. In 1974, he moved his family to Colorado, where he worked as an electrician at the Rocky Flats Nuclear Plant until its closure in 1989. Bill and Sue returned to Texas in 1995 to live on the McCain family ranch. Shortly afterward, Bill went to work driving for C.A.R.R. (City and Rural Rides). Eventually, a well-earned retirement followed, and many wonderful days were spent living on the ranch and attending Novice Methodist Church.

Bill was a man of many talents. He loved music and had a beautiful tenor voice, which he shared through church and other occasions. He was also an artist and a member of the Abilene Creative Arts Club. Bill and Sue enjoyed traveling and visited several countries, including Ireland, Scotland, England, and Israel. They also loved cruising on small ships along the rivers of America.

Bill is survived by his wife, Sue Shields of Novice; two sons, Michael Shields and wife Terri of Lincoln, California, and Todd Shields of Cedar Edge, Colorado; one brother, Tobe Shields of Abilene; and two grandsons, Mason Shields and Pierce Shields of Citrus Heights, California.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Vincent and Willie Shields, and his brother, Ed Shields.

A Celebration of Bill’s Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at Stevens Funeral Home Chapel, 400 West Pecan Street, in Coleman, with Dr. David Medley and Rev. Greg Oberg officiating. A private family inurnment will take place at Atoka Cemetery.

The family invites you to share fond memories and words of condolence by signing the guestbook on Bill’s tribute page at www.stevensfuneralhome.com. Stevens Funeral Home is honored to serve the Shields family.