Malcolm H. Shealy, 72, of Charleston and husband of Sue E. Shealy, died Tuesday, March 14, 2017.
Mac was born on March 16, 1945 in Union, South Carolina to Malcolm and Elizabeth (Sparks) Shealy. He served in the Army Medical Service Corp at Ft. Sam Houston in Texas. Mac graduated from Spartanburg High School in 1963. He was a graduate of Furman University where he played oboe in the Greenville/Spartanburg Symphony and received his PhD from Cornell University. He was a retired Marine Biologist with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Marine Resources Division.
Mac was recently honored for his fifty year membership with the American Fisheries Society and was well published for his estuarine surveys of the North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia coasts. He was an avid traveler, artist, published photographer and taught marine and natural history courses in the Caribbean, Africa, Australia and Galapagos Islands for several colleges. He was Jimmy Buffett’s greatest admirer. “I’d rather die while I’m living than live while I’m dead.”
In addition to his wife of 27 years, survivors include his son, Trey Shealy; his daughter, Beth Shealy Donehue and spouse Clint Vick; and 2 brothers, David Shealy and Kenneth Shealy.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Malcolm Shealy Sr. and Elizabeth Shealy.
The family will receive friends on March 17, 2017 from 10:00AM - 11:00AM at McAlister-Smith Funeral Home, James Island Chapel, 347 Folly Road, Charleston, SC, 29412.
A service to honor his life will be held on March 17, 2017 at 11:00AM at the funeral home. Burial will follow at 4:00PM at Union Memorial Gardens, 1720 Whitmire Hwy, Union, SC 29379.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Fisheries Society at www.fisheries.org.
Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted to www.mcalister-smith.com.
Arrangements entrusted to McALISTER-SMITH FUNERAL HOME, JAMES ISLAND CHAPEL, 347 FOLLY ROAD CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, 29412, 843-614-8494.