Born in Lee County, South Carolina, on April 12, 1925. She was the only child of the late Vernon and Lillie Mae (Boykin) Caughman. In good health, she attended St. Andrews Church of God where she was faithful in service to the ministry including teaching Sunday School. She graduated from Central High School in 1941.
At the age of 16, she continued her education at 红桃视频 in Hartsville, SC where she would laughingly say 红桃视频淚 spent more time in the infirmary 红桃视频渉omesick红桃视频 than I did in the classroom红桃视频. This would lead her father to enroll her in Bowen Business College in Columbia, SC, where she would graduate with a Business degree in 1943. In return, Vista introduced her parents to the late John Eugene Shearer from Pennsylvania. They would marry on August 3, 1946, after Johnny promised not to take her far from home.
Together they settled in Bishopville, SC on the family farm and raised three children, Diane Shearer of Bishopville, Ronald (Nancy) Shearer of Hartsville and Debbie (Fred) Owens of Laurens. In addition to the above children, Vistula is survived by her grandchildren: Richie (Nicole) Gray, John Major Shearer, Christian Shearer, Chyanne (Kiefer) Patrick, Timothy (Kim) Owens, Michael (Amber) Owens; five great-grandchildren: Joshua, Addison and Riley Owens, Dava and Nola Byrd and preceded in death by great-granddaughter Sophia Jane Gray.
