Nathan Shields: December 23, 1940 - April 13, 2024.

If you met Nathan Shields, you instantly liked him. If you knew Nathan Shields, you loved him dearly. Nathan was more endearing the more time you spent with him – and many had the pleasure of spending quality moments with him.

Much of Eugene will know Nathan as an affable barber with a quick wit, ready one liners and jokes worthy of rim-shots – and who gave terrific haircuts impossibly fast. But for more than just a handful of clients, Nathan was not only a virtuoso hair trimmer worth a laugh or two – he was an insightful counselor, empathetic life coach and master motivator. For those lucky folks, the brilliant styling was just a side benefit of what amounted to some of the best life counseling that money could not buy – because it was never for sale but freely and graciously given. In Nathan’s chair Mayors solved city problems, University Presidents navigated tricky issues, CEOs revamped company strategies, many a broken relationship was mended… and everyone came to understand themselves better.

Even more remarkable considering Nathan’s humble and trying beginnings: Born December 23, 1940, in Rector, Aransas to William Lowry Shields and Nellie McCord Shields, Nathan grew up picking cotton. The the eldest among two brothers and three sisters he lost his father before he was ten. There was often not enough food on the table, and the family occasionally migrated to the Pacific Northwest for seasonal work where Nathan fell in love with Oregon.

Nathan self-discovered hairstyling talent as the family barber and would soon pass the practical portion of the Arkansas barber examination with the highest possible score. He joined The Red Ball in Blytheville as both the youngest barber and working the last of eight chairs. Yet his clipper speed and guile soon made him the shop’s highest earner - so prodigious that when Nathan announced he was leaving for the west coast, the owner offered to sell him the shop if he would stay. But he had other plans – he had proposed to Linda both a wedding and a move to Oregon. They headed west not long after she married what was by then a somewhat notorious but delightful town rebel. Having agreed that since he picked the state, she should pick the town, he drove them south from Portland – “tell me when to stop.” Much to the great fortune of The Emerald City, she chose Eugene.

In 1962 Nathan started at The Campus Barbershop on East 13th Avenue. After a few years of scaping the Shields had enough to buyout the retiring owner, and in 1967 Nathan founded The Red Rooster Barbershop just across the street. In 1971 he seized on downtown development to open Man’s World (later Hair World and later The Bushwacker) on Oak Street. For nearly 50 years Nathan led successful shops in Eugene where he innovated a novel model of co-ownership (no one ever worked “for” him, always “with” him), much of it with longtime partner and close friend Mac King.

The Shields raised two children, Karyn and Kevin both of whom Nathan was extremely proud – Karyn joining dad’s shop and eventually taking over as a successful owner for the re-acquired The Red Rooster, Kevin being the family’s first college graduate and eventually a senior executive at Microsoft and Nokia. Nathan more than delivered on his commitment that “I want my kids to have a dad, because I didn’t.” His barbering wizardry meant a full day’s income on three-quarters day’s time – often allowing him to pick his kids up from school for some afternoon adventure. The family was fond of backpacking and camping trips, especially hiking in the Three Sisters Wilderness Area. Nathan and Kevin enjoyed offroad motorcycling and bow hunting in eastern Oregon.

In 1972 Nathan and Linda built a beautiful home on Bardell Avenue under an oasis of majestic trees on the canoe canal next to the Prefontaine Trail where they hosted many warm gatherings. The Shields were long standing members of First Baptist Church where their daughter wed Tim Harden who Nathan would embrace as a second son, even beyond their later divorce. In 2014 Nathan retired from Man’s World, the Shields sold their home and moved to Arizona for drier/warmer weather and be near their grandson Alexander whom they later followed to Haines City, Florida.

In early 2024 Nathan was diagnosed with a rare form of cirrhosis of the liver despite having never consumed alcohol. He had over 83 wonderful years and had the opportunity to say goodbye to friends and family. He passed in peace surrounded by loved ones and is surely well into his next adventure at the feet of Jesus, his Lord and savior. He is survived by his wife Linda, two children Karyn and Kevin, four grandchildren Alexander, Kaylie, Juliette, and Nathan, and two great-grandchildren Allanna and Vivian.

Nathan was always doing what he loved, and loved what he was doing - wherever and whatever it was. What those who knew him well will most remember is how good he made them feel. A great husband, a super dad and a bright light of joy and encouragement in his community – Nathan was loved deeply and will be missed even more.

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