J Shea Jewelers Donates Ring to Woman Who Lost Hers in Fire

By Jason Sheehan / Abilene Reporter-News Staff Writer
December 31, 2005

Mardell Harmes never wore her wedding ring inside the house because she was afraid she would lose it. But whenever she left the house, it was always on her finger.

That is until Tuesday night when flames destroyed her home in Cross Plains and she escaped with only the clothes on her back.

Her family spent Thursday sifting through the ashes of Harmes' former home looking for the wedding band she had worn for 35 years.

''If we can find that, we'll be happy,'' said Toni Shields, Harmes' daughter. Their search for the ring was captured in a photograph published in Friday's Abilene Reporter-News.

Jeremy Shea Leech, owner of J Shea Jewelers, saw the picture and decided to get involved.

''It kind of touched me,'' said Leech, 26. ''There's not too much a jewelry store can do in a tragedy, but I thought, 'Hey, I can replace that ring.'''

On Friday, Harmes said the search for the ring came up empty. When informed of Leech's intentions, a choked-up Harmes finally had a reason to smile.

''How wonderful,'' she exclaimed. ''I tell you, good people just come out of the woodwork. It will be more than appreciated.''

Leech said it was just his way to help out.

''This is something that hits us pretty hard,'' he said. ''It's close to home.''

Contact staff writer Jason Sheehan at
sheehanj@reporternews.com