Willis Owen Shay

Willis Owen (“Bud”) Shay died at home on June 8,2024. Surviving are his wife, Doris, a noted Island watercolorist, daughters, Amy Shepard and Laurie Shay,  son, Patrick, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Willis, 5th of 6 children, was born in 1926 in Terra Alta, WV to Willis O. Shay and Josephine White Shay.

Drafted into the Army Infantry during World War II, Willis was sent to the University of Chicago to become an interpreter-translator in the Japanese language. After the war, he served in the Army of Occupation as a sergeant major in Nagano, Japan. In 1952 during the US Korean War, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the US Air Force Reserves.

Willis obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Banking and Finance and a Juris Doctor degree from West Virginia University. In 1953, the year he and Doris married, he began practicing law with Steptoe and Johnson in WV. Willis, specializing in corporate finance litigation, public utility rate regulation, and enforcement of environmental regulations, was managing partner of Steptoe and Johnson’s WV office from 1966 to 1981.

As a permanent resident of Hilton Head Island since 1981, Willis served on many Town task forces and committees. He served as president of the Hilton Head Community Association prior to and during the Town’s incorporation in 1983, was on the board of directors of the Hilton Head Island Foundation (now the Community Foundation of the Low Country), became president of the Hilton Head Community Orchestra and managed its evolution into the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra; and, as its chairman, transitioned the Orchestra’s piano competition into an event of international significance.  He served for 13 years on the Orchestra’s Board of Directors.  Fostering his love of music, he was a classical-music announcer for five years on National Public Radio-affiliated station WSVH in Savannah. He served with the Savannah Symphony Orchestra as a bass-baritone soloist and was a member of the Savannah Symphony Chorale

In 1975, Willis and Doris built a thatch-roofed cottage in County Clare, Ireland, and for 32 years spent summers there, in the English Cotswold Hills and on the Continent. His love for  travel took him around the world twice, 1948-1950 and 1986,

Willis’s remains will be buried with his wife’s at Shays Chapel Church Cemetery in Preston County, West Virginia.

A celebration of life will be held at All Saints Episcopal Church on July 15 at 1:00pm. Reception immediately following in the reception hall. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to:  Hilton Head International Piano Competition

Attn: Steven Shaiman

PO Drawer 5757

Hilton Head Island, SC 29938

Shays Chapel Church

3939 Yorks Run Rd.

Newburg, WV   26410