Mary Jean Shook, age 76, of Mount Gilead, died early Friday morning, February 4, 2011, at Woodside Village Care Center following an extended illness.
On July 2, 1934, Mary was born in Canton, Ohio, the daughter of the late Ronald and Valeria (Gamble) Thayer. She graduated from Louisville High School in the Class of 1952.
A few years after being set up on a blind date, Mary married the love of her life, Leroy E. Shook, on October 17, 1959. Together they shared fifty one loving years of marriage.
After working for a few years at the Dime Savings in Canton, Mary and Leroy moved to Columbus in 1961, where she worked as a bookkeeper for Huntington Bank. They lived there until 1976, when they moved to Morrow County.
Putting the needs of others before her own, Mary enjoyed working as a nurse’s aid at Morrow Manor in Chesterville, and later at the Morning View Care Center in Fulton for eight years until she retired in 1996.
With her life being “centered around church,” Mary had been an active member of the Marengo United Methodist Church for many years. While there, she was proud to lead a program called “God’s Kids”, giving children a place to go after school and participate in various activities and most importantly have fun. For several years, she also was the choir director and directed the Christmas cantatas. She had also been a member and past president of the Women’s Society in Marengo.
An avid reader, Mary enjoyed reading “books of faith” that helped her focus on her love for the Lord.
With a love for music, Mary especially loved playing the piano for her husband, Leroy, whenever he would be singing a solo.
Having a huge heart, Mary cared deeply for her grandchildren who she was “always making a fuss over.”
Mary will be missed by her husband, Leroy Shook of Mount Gilead; two sons: Martin and Greg Shook of Marengo; two daughters: Karen Shook of Alabama, and her son, Zachary, and Stephanie (William) Otten of Mount Gilead, and their two children: Nathan and Samantha; two sisters: Donna (Ian) Blandford of Louisville, and Sandra (Rocky) Rine of Hagerstown, Maryland; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Including her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her sister, Deborah Raber.
The Shook family will observe memorial services in Mary’s honor at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Morrow County, 228 South St., Mount Gilead, Ohio 43338, or to the Central Ohio Diabetes Association, 1100 Dennison Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43201.
Snyder Funeral Homes of Mount Gilead is honored to the Shook family.
For those wishing to express their private condolences online, you may do so by visiting www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.
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