Ian Shearer Education Fund

Ian Shearer's family lost him to pancreatic cancer at age 55. He is survived by his wife Marci and children Anne (22), Elliot (20), Caleb (18), Noelle (15), and Asher (7). Ian served the Millinocket community for the last 20 years of his life as a pastor and sports coach. His loss is deeply felt. To support Ian's family, you may donate here to an educational fund for Ian's children.

Read Ian's obituary below:

Ian Gary Shearer, 55, beloved husband, father, pastor, brother, and friend to many passed away at home in the early hours of May 8 with his wife and oldest daughter at his bedside. He spent his final days surrounded by loving family.

Ian was born on January 24, 1969 to Gary and Mary Shearer of Danvers, Massachusetts and grew up in South Hamilton, Massachusetts. He and his four brothers spent childhood playing sports, pulling pranks on each other, and inventing “Crazyball,” a sport the family and friends still play every Thanksgiving. In winter, Ian’s family would go sledding at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Once when he was still young, Ian looked up at the seminary and told his mother “one day, I’m going to go here.”

In high school, Ian discovered his passion and talent for running. He led the Hamilton-Wenham Generals as captain of the cross country and track teams. Ian also played baritone in the high school band for four years, and started a family tradition of taking up the sousaphone to fill out the marching band bass section.

Ian graduated from Hamilton Wenham Regional High School in 1987 having been inducted into the National Honor Society and elected Homecoming King and Student Body President. He then attended Bates College in Maine, continued track and cross country, and earned a Political Science degree with honors.

After graduating in 1991, Ian moved to Santa Cruz, California where he renewed his commitment to Christ and joined High Street Community Church. While there, he met his beloved wife, Marci (Stickler) Shearer. They married July 19, 1998 and exemplified a Godly marriage for the next 25 years.

Ian soon felt called to be a pastor, and the two returned to Massachusetts for graduate school. They attended First Baptist Church in Manchester and volunteered with the youth group during this time. True to his childhood prediction, Ian graduated from Gordon-Conwell with his Master’s of Divinity in 2003.

Ian and Marci began searching for a church to serve. This brought them further and further north until they found Faith Baptist Church in Millinocket, Maine. They moved in August of 2004. For the next 20 years, Ian would raise his family here and serve the Millinocket community as a pastor and sports coach.

Ian loved exploring the outdoors with his family. He used a jogging stroller to bring his kids on runs even as babies, and he strapped on a baby backpack to take them hiking. When they were older, he taught them to ski. He planned canoe trips for him and Marci to celebrate their anniversary, brought the family camping every summer, and began building a cabin on Ambajejus Lake. He also coached his kids and their friends in baseball, softball, and basketball.

Ian’s congregants testify to the countless ways he cared for them and touched their lives. He is remembered for faithfully loving Marci and his kids. He made people laugh with his quick-witted comments and gap-toothed grin. His service to the church and to the town of Millinocket glorified God. Even after being diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer in December 2022, Ian continued to preach the gospel and coach sports until he became too weak to do so.

Ian is survived by his wife Marci and his parents Gary and Mary. His children are Anne, Elliot and his fiancée Emma McGraw, Caleb, Noelle, and Asher. He is also survived by his four younger brothers, three sisters-in-law, and a large extended family of nieces, nephews, and their children.

A funeral will be held at Faith Baptist Church in Millinocket, on Wednesday May 15 at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to an educational fund for Ian's children. Gifts can be made online, or checks can be sent to Marci Shearer c/o Faith Baptist Church P.O. Box 516 Millinocket, Maine 04462. Online Condolences may be expressed here.