Ona Demorest Dulaney

Ona Elizabeth Demorest (Shupe) Dulaney

September 7, 1930 – June 18, 2026

It is with sadness for our loss, we announce the passing of Ona (Shupe) Dulaney, who was welcomed into the arms of her loving Savior on June 18, 2026, just three months shy of her 96th birthday. She passed rather quickly after a hemorrhagic brain stroke.

She is survived by her husband, John Dulaney; her son Paul Gordon Shupe, Jr., and daughter-in-law Nancy Shupe, along with granddaughter Cassandra, grandson Austin, and great-grandson Clay; her daughter Katherine Shupe Muscara and son-in-law Joe Muscara, with grandsons Kyle, Blake, and Trey, and granddaughter Elissa; and her daughter Laura Shupe Harley and son-in-law Phillip Harley, with grandson Skyler and granddaughter Savannah; and John Dulaney’s children; Alice Dulaney Lopez and husband Mark, granddaughter Elena, and grandsons Nicolas and Daniel; Lynn Dulaney Barnes and husband Gary Barnes, with granddaughter Lydia Barnes Melim and husband Andrew Melim; and John’s son Doug Dulaney and wife Sue Dulaney.

We will miss Ona tremendously, yet we rejoice that she knew her Savior intimately and was ready to complete her earthly race and enter into His eternal kingdom. Our memories of her will remain a lasting blessing and comfort to all who knew and loved her, until we meet again by the grace of God.

A Celebration of Ona Shupe Dulaney’s Life

at Trinity Wellsprings Church

638 S Patrick Dr.

Satellite Beach

Saturday • July 18, 2026, at 2 PM

In Lieu of Flowers, donations in Ona’s memory may be made to your choice of organizations:

Pregnancy Resources: https://www.pregnancyresourcesmelbourne.com/

Liberty Council: https://lc.org/

Samaritan’s Purse: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/

We would be grateful to be notified of any donations made.

Early Childhood, College and Career

Ona Elizabeth Demorest was born on September 7, 1930, in Charlottesville, Virginia, to Margaret Jane Williams (age 18) and Robert Earle Demorest (age 23), both traveling vaudeville performers. She received her name, Ona, meaning grace or favor, from her paternal grandmother, Ona Demorest, who had passed away three years before she was born. Because her parents and grandparents were part of a traveling vaudeville group, Ona was raised primarily by her paternal grandfather, Robert Fulton Demorest, and step grandmother, Verna Johnson Demorest, at their home and blueberry, poultry, and tobacco farm in Starke, Florida. There, she was able to attend primary school and enjoy a stable childhood.

She graduated from Bradford County High School in 1948 and enrolled at the University of Florida in Gainesville to study Elementary Education. Only one year after the university became co-ed, Ona embraced campus life with enthusiasm. She helped pioneer the Gamma Iota chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. As a sophomore, she served as the president and played a key role in selecting the site of the chapter house, which still stands today.

While at UF, Ona met Paul Gordon Shupe, Sr., at a fraternity party. Paul proposed to her after his graduation in 1950, before he left for a year, but Ona chose to complete her degree and remain open to dating, while he spent a year in England employed by Philco, training the Royal Air Force in RADAR technology.

Ona interned at an elementary school in Jacksonville and then moved back to Starke and taught for one year in primary school there. She continued her career in Brevard County, where she taught second grade at Creel Elementary and third grade at Patrick Air Force Base.

First Marriage

On June 20, 1953, Ona married Paul Gordon Shupe, Sr. in Starke, Florida. The couple first lived in the Loveridge Heights development in Melbourne. They later purchased a home and three acres on Merritt Island, where they raised their family—son Gordon, and daughters Katherine and Laura. They spent most of their 46-year marriage on South Tropical Trail, Merritt Island. Paul Shupe, Sr., passed away from cancer on July 11, 1999, at the age of 72.

Second Marriage

Ona married John Douglas Dulaney on November 15, 2003, when she was 73 years old. She and John had dated while they were both attending the University of Florida in their 20’s. John provided loving companionship and devoted care for Ona for nearly 23 years, especially during her final years as she faced the challenges of dementia. Ona’s children and grandchildren warmly adopted Papa John as their new patriarch for family events and vacations. Their home became a hub of activity for birthdays, holidays, and visits from out-of-town relatives.

A Life Shaped by Theater and Faith

Ona was born into a rich vaudeville legacy. Her grandparents performed with the Lehr-Williams Comedy Company, and her grandfather later founded his own vaudeville company (or stock company). Her parents continued the tradition, performing dramatic plays, variety acts, and music in tent repertory companies across the rural South—an era when these traveling performers were celebrated as the “Hollywood elite” of their time, often featured in *Billboard Magazine*. Ona took great pride in this heritage and remained a lifelong supporter of local theater, including the Indian River Players and the Cocoa Beach Playhouse.

A woman of deep faith, Ona attended St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in the 1960s and later Trinity Presbyterian (now Trinity Wellsprings) Church in Satellite Beach. A member of Trinity for over 46 years, she and her first husband, Paul Shupe, served on the Trinity Session, in Sunday School, and the prayer team. She was also the Elder for evangelism.

Ona lived out her faith as a persistent prayer warrior. In her effects, her children uncovered bible verses with personal reflections, sermon notes, devotional notes, and extensive, detailed prayer journals. She was especially consistent in prayer for her children and grandchildren. It was clearly her greatest, most heartfelt desire that they all come to know the Savior she loved so much.

Ona’s love language was gift giving, and many were blessed by her generosity. She had a vibrant personality and distinctive tastes: she loved to travel to the mountains, the color purple, dark chocolate, mystery novels, and clever turns of phrase. She frequently wrote short, heartfelt poems in greeting cards and letters. One of her children’s favorites was a humorous Easter poem that captured her playful wit:

A chocolate bunny named Fred

To his chocolate wife, he said

If you tell me, it’s Spring

I won’t hear a thing

‘Cause they bit two ears off my head

Even as dementia clouded her final years, Ona remained grateful, pleasant, and quick to laugh at life’s difficulties. During the last eleven months of her life, she was lovingly cared for by her 31-year-old grandson, Blake Muscara, who sacrificially moved in with the Dulaney’s to provide in-home care at their beloved lake-view home in Suntree.

Ona was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who cherished her family and expressed deep appreciation for their care. We will cherish our memories of her until we meet again in the Eternal Kingdom.

In Lieu of Flowers, donations in Ona’s memory may be made to your choice of organizations:

Pregnancy Resources: https://www.pregnancyresourcesmelbourne.com/

Liberty Council: https://lc.org/

Samaritan’s Purse: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/

We would be grateful to be notified of any donations made.