Tributes

Born Peggy Jane Beevers in Memphis, TN to Pette (Pete) Douglas Beevers and Vivian Lois Carroll of Cleveland, MS in February 1936 - Peggy went on to live a life rich with experiences. Written in her senior high school yearbook was the motto which would reflect a core value and driver in her life “always do your best and God will do the rest.” From her early years Peggy excelled in school, was a self-starter, a person ambitious to excel. Upon graduation from high school in Memphis - moving to Chicago in the 1950s Peggy went on to become a flight attendant for Eastern Airlines where she traveled the world. Her travels included Europe on many occasions and all across the US. Relocating with her job to the Alabama Gulf Coast in Mobile in 1960 - Peggy went on to meet her future husband John Backlund, an electrical engineering contractor from California. The couple would marry in 1961 in Mobile, AL - where they would welcome to the world their two children Richard Edward and Robert John Backlund. Being an ambitious young family looking to advance they would go on to live in Puerto Rico, Florida, the Bahamas Islands, and Washington, DC. While in the DC area Peggy was very active in the American Kennel Club where she raised Australian terriers with her dogs received numerous awards competitions throughout the greater Washington area. While in Washington, DC - Peggy would move on to marry Dr. S. David Shearer of the US Environmental Protection Agency. Soon after she and David relocated to central Texas in 1980 where she would work for the US Air Force in a 25-year career that included challenging work at Bergstrom Air Force base, and then later Randolph AFB in San Antonio. Peggy was always seeking the best for her children first - and was a constant light of support in their lives. Later in the 1990s when living in San Antonio after the death of David Shearer - Peggy would go on to marry Jack Randy Duckworth (Randy) from Dallas, TX who would become a source of great love, support and joy to her and her family for many years. Randy was always said by Peggy to be the “true love of her life”. Peggy had many interests that included a strong commitment to her faith in the Episcopal church, being an active member of the Daughters of the American Revolution James McHenry Chapter in San Antonio where she held a number of positions, as a volunteer at the Majestic Theatre in downtown San Antonio, and many other interests. Peggy leaves her beloved sons Richard E. Backlund (Adonay) of Topeka KS, Robert J. Backlund (Lori) of San Antonio, grandsons Taylor E. Backlund (Ashley) of San Antonio, Justin Paige (Haliann) of Los Angeles, granddaughter Kelsey Paige and fiancée Philip Guthrie of Hobbs, NM - with future great-grandchildren coming soon. She is also survived by her brother Jeffrey Stearns (Judy) and niece Christie Shopoff (Mike) and her family all in Houston, TX. She is also survived by her Aunt Lyndell Switzer Dilly of Cleveland, MS and her family. A celebration of the life of Peggy Shearer will be held at 10am on Tuesday, April 15th at St. Thomas Episcopal Church & School, 1416 North Loop 1604 East, San Antonio, TX 78232. There will be a reception following the funeral worship service at the church followed by a family entombment in the afternoon at Mission Park North. Peggy was a passionate supporter of animal rights throughout her life - in place of flowers a donation to the San Antonio Humane Society ~ https://sahumane.org/ would be greatly appreciated.

Tributes

Peggy Jane Shearer

February 23, 1936 - April 9, 2025