Robert Francis "Fran" Shives, III

Robert Francis “Fran” Shives, III, 76, of Hancock, MD, passed away, Thursday, June 29, 2023, at Meritus Medical Center in Hagerstown, MD. Born July 6, 1946 at the Washington County Hospital, he was the son of the late Robert Francis Shives II and Julia Bohrer Shives of Hancock, MD.

He graduated with the Class of 1964 from Hancock High School; earned his A.A. Degree in 1966 from Hagerstown Junior College; a B.S. degree in 1968 from Towson University; and a M.Ed. Degree in 1972 from Shippensburg University.

He retired in 1999 from Washington County Board of Education, as a teacher with 31 years’ experience. He taught at Conococheague Elementary, Clear Spring Elementary and Clear Spring Middle School, where he was instrumental in the formation of the school’s Student Senate and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. In 1976, he was nominated as “Outstanding Young Educator of Washington County,” and was given the honor of being inducted into the Clear Spring Middle School’s Hall of Fame. He was a member of the Maryland Sate Retired Teacher’s Association and the Washington County Teacher’s Association.

He was a member of the Hancock United Methodist Church serving on a variety of committees including chairman of CAMP JOY. He was also a member of the church adult choir and was a charter member of the church handbell choir.

He earned the rank of Eagle Scout with two palms with Troop #15, Hancock, MD.; was a Brotherhood member of the Order of The Arrow; member of the National Eagle Scout Association; former high school football official with the Winchester Apple Valley Football Association. He was a charter member of the Hancock Jaycees (which later became the Pen-Mar Jaycees) and served as President in 1972. During his Jaycee involvement, he served in a variety of state leadership positions prior to being elected as the 40^th President of the Maryland Jaycees in 1979, and was recognized as one of the U.S. Jaycees Top Ten State Presidents. In 1980, he was elected to serve as a United States Jaycees National Vice President. Fran was presented Life Membership into the Maryland Jaycees as a Militia Major; awarded a United States Jaycees Ambassador; and awarded a Jaycees International Senatorship #22310. He also received recognition as an Outstanding Young Man of America in 1975 and 1977. In 1976, he was the community’s nominee as the Outstanding Young Marylander.

Fran was a Past President of the Hancock Lions Club; member of James W. Bowers Masonic Lodge #173, A.F. & A.M. where he served as secretary for a number of years; member of Tall Cedars Forest #95 in Hagerstown, MD.; member of the Order of Eastern Star, Berkeley Springs, WV. Chapter #77; Past Rabban of Hillbilly Clan #42; Past President of Hagerstown Shrine Club; Past President of Kentucky Colonels of Washington County; a 32^nd degree Mason of the Scottish Rite body in Cumberland, MD.; member of the Knights of St. Andrew; member of the Royal order of Scotland; member of the Order of Quetzalcoatal; Life Member of the Kachina Klub; member and Past Director of the Royal Order of Jesters, Cumberland Court #117; member of Ali Ghan Shriners of Cumberland, MD., where he was a member of the Director’s Staff and Past President of the Ali Ghan Shepherds Unit; member of the International Cabiri; honorary member of the Legion of Honor, Railroad Unit, Sayara Unit and Motor Corps. He was a committee member of the Imperial Shriners Membership Team. He proudly served as a transportation driver for children to/from Shriners Hospitals. Fran served as the Ali Ghan Shrine Potentate in 2007 and 2010. He was the only Potentate at Ali Ghan Shrine to serve for two years. At the conclusion of his term, he was inducted into the Shriners of North America’s Membership Hall of Fame during the 2008 Imperial Council session in St. Louis.

He is survived by his wife, Susan J. Fleming Shives; five nephews, Spencer and Dylan Shives, both of Berkeley Springs, WV., and Craig, Glenn and Lance Elbin, all of Needmore, PA.; and one niece, Trina Elbin Clever, of Warfordsburg, PA.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Emlynn J. Shives and a sister, S. Francine Elbin.

The family will receive friends Friday, July 7, 2023, 9:30-11:30 am at Hancock United Methodist Church, 170 West Main St., Hancock, MD. Funeral services will follow at 11:30 am at the church. Pastor Becki Wessinger will officiate. Burial will follow at St. Peter’s Catholic Church 16 E. High St, Hancock, MD.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to either the Ali Ghan Shriners Transportation Fund, the Ali Ghan Shriners Endowment Fund (13100 Ali Ghan Road, NE, Cumberland, MD 21502), or the James W. Bowers Lodge #173, Hancock, MD. (3 Wine Street, Hancock, MD 21750).

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Grove Funeral Home, 141 West Main St., Hancock, MD. Online condolences can be expressed to the family at www.grovefh.com.