REUNION IN THE MOUNTAINS

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

2009-12-11T07:54:00.000-08:00

With the holidays upon us, I reflect upon the last year and feel truly blessed to be a part of a family whose lineage and traditions find its heart and home in the mountains of North Carolina. Just as those majestic mountains still guard and protect the land of Greene, Etta, Grandpa Jimmy and Grandma Sally, so are we embraced by the love we share as a part of the Michael / Shook clan.

It's been quite a year for all of us....Thoughts of the reunion in July continuously brighten my days, and I can still see all of you clearly in my mind as I stood in front of the hearth at the Matney Community Center. What an amazing homecoming! How wonderful to meet people about whom I had heard stories all my life, and how special to see cousins I grew up with and hadn't seen for decades!! It's so true...there's nothing like family, and I'd place ours at the top of the list in terms of strength, love, and connection at the heart any day. We are truly, truly blessed.

As the year comes to a close, I pause to reflect upon the lives of Ruth and Hoyle, Tom and Ada, Grady and Myrtle, Larry, Zeb, Carroll, Michael Tanner, little Samuel Wilson and others who now look upon us from the world of spirit. I give thanks for our elders who are advancing in years and say a special prayer for those whose lives are impacted by health problems. And, I delight in the images in my mind of the children in our family who will continue our legacy. There is nothing stronger than the bond we share - we can always look to the Shooks and Michaels for the encourgement, strength or wisdom we may need at any moment.

The happiest of holidays to you all, AND don't forget to mark you calendars for July 4, 2011 for the next "gathering of the clan."

Infinite love,

Tanya

REFLECTIONS FROM AUDREY SHOOK ROMINGER

2009-08-25T06:54:00.000-07:00

I took notes one afternoon while sitting in Grandma's living room in Pigeon Roost as Aunt Audrey talked to me about her love for Carroll Shook and Aunt Ada and Uncle Tom...Here's what she told me...

"I loved staying down at Aunt Ada's house. She only had boys, and I loved to pretend I was her little girl. She'd let me wear her clothes, her dresses, and I always felt real pretty in them....
When the 1940 flood came, I was at Aunt Ada's, and Bradley was staying with Grandpa and Grandma Michael. I remember seeing them walking up to Aunt Ada's carrying their clothes as the flood waters were rising..."

She went on to talk about Carroll Shook..."Carroll was my hero. He always made over me when I'd stay down at Aunt Ada's. He would play with me and chase me around. He'd hide in the boxwoods around Aunt Ada's house, and as I ran by, he'd jump out and scare me. I remember crying when he left home. He joined the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) and left home to plant pine trees."

(Posted by Tanya Shook Wilder)

HOYLE HAYES & THOMAS TOPE SHOOK - ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

2009-08-25T06:20:00.000-07:00

(Note: As I was cleaning off my desk this morning, I came across some notes I took while talking to Audrey Shook Rominger one afternoon at Grandma Ruth's home in Pigeon Roost. )

Hoyle and Tom Shook's mother, Sally Hayes Gragg Shook, was married to Larkin Gragg prior to being married to James Dalton Shook. Larkin went out west, where he died, leaving Sally Hayes Gragg a widow. Sally and Larkin Gragg had four daughters, half-sisters to Hoyle and Tom once Sally married James Shook:

a. Blanche Gragg married a Mr. (?) Frank and had a daughter, Hilda
b. Belle Gragg married a Mr. John (?) Calloway and had a son and daughter (still living ?)
c. Lizzie Gragg married a Mr. (?) Townsend
d. Onie Gragg married a Mr. Beard (Baird ?)

LETTER FROM PAULINE SHOOK BENDER, QUENTIN SHOOK'S DAUGHTER

2009-08-25T06:03:00.000-07:00

(NOTE: Pauline Shook Bender recently sent this email to Myra Shook, and I thought it would be nice to share with all. (Mado is her sister, Madeleine, who was also at the reunion.)

Hi, Myra!
Thank you so much for e-mailing the photos. Looking at the picture and remembering the reunion makes me think of the cool air of the mountains ... something in very short supply here in the Southwest at the moment.

I apologize deeply for not responding sooner. I thought I had, and discovered that I had saved the e-mail as a draft and not actually e-mailed it.
How is your Mom doing?

The day Mado and I left Boone to head down to Greensboro, it was raining, and I said to Mado that the mountains were crying because many of us were leaving the mountains to go back to our daily lives ... We visited the Michael land, met some bees furiously buzzing about the fireplace (and me), looked at the height of the weeds that had to be cut to create the path (gigantic height for weeds) to the old barn and the house ... drove up some of the "roads" that have been built on the land, there was even a picnic place, listened to the rushing creek. Peace.

We also videotaped but I don't know how well the video will be - camera is not waterproof so we tended to film from the inside of the car. We also drove down a bit on Dutch Creek, but I'm not familiar with the road and we didn't know where it would go, so we turned around and went back to 194.

I recognize most of the people in the picture, but not everyone. Who are the people who are primarily in the back row, left, of the photo? I recognize all in the front row, including some of the back row through Larry and James, but to Larry right and beyond, I don't know who they are. Would that be Glen wearing the cap? I recognize Bill Rominger. I was amazed to see so many people, and at the same time it was sooooooo heartwarming to see so many relatives! Mado and I talked about our experience later, and we both felt that at the reunion, there were these unseen arms holding us, wrapping us in warmth. That's how it felt.

I had e-mail correspondence with Eric, Uncle Carroll's stepson, who lives in Germany. I asked him if he planned on visiting the US again in the near future. His reply was that no, his travel days were over. Shortly after his last visit to the US, around 2000 or 2001, he was diagnosed with a cancer, an effect of Agent Orange, so his immune system is not in tip top shape, making travel nearly impossible for him. His wife passed away some time in the last two years or less, but he lives in the same apartment building as his daughter, Sandra lives in, so I think he is doing okay.
Otherwise, not much is going on, except Neil and I seem to have spent nearly every weekend (since I came back from the reunion) going back and forth to the Phoenix area. We did so again yesterday. Depending on where in the PHX metropolitan area we go, it is a drive of just under two hours to over two hours with radar photo enforcements galore. Already, we are looking forward to next weekend. I can't believe it's almost September!

I forgot to ask before I left NC - is there a way to make a donation to the Matney Community building? I think there was a box at the reunion. And also to the reunion fund to help defray the expenses from the reunion? Mado and I were running short on cash, embarassingly, and we didn't bring our checkbooks with us, so we couldn't leave any money before we left.

I spoke to my parents a week ago or so. There had been some strong earthquakes of late. So far, they are doing well.

Take care, please say "hi" to your mom and Tanya, and our love to everyone!
Pauline

MORE FAMILY CONNECTIONS

2009-08-05T18:15:00.000-07:00

Recently I received the following message from Bill Smyer of Fancy Gap, VA. He's a distant relative of ours on the Michael side. His great great-grandfather, William Mastin Michael, was a brother to Larkin Michael, father of Greene Michael. That would make him my generation's 4th cousin, and my father's generation's 3rd cousin. See the message he sent me below. He also has contact with Bianca Stout, a former student of Aunt Mildred's and a relative (by marriage) to Gertrude Potter Shook. It's a small world! I hope Bill will be able to attend our July, 2011 reunion.

Bill's message:

To: Ms. Tanya Shook Wilder

Hello, I'm Bill Smyer in Fancy Gap, VA. My GG-grandfather was William Mastin Michael, a brother of your GG-grandfather Larkin Michael. So we're fourth cousins, I believe.A few days ago Bianca Stout gave me the link to your blog about your Watauga County reunion last month. You have done an outstanding job with it! I wanted to make contact with you to tell you how much I have enjoyed reading it to learn more about my distant Michael cousins. I found you through your comment about Nash Shook and Facebook, then your sister Myra told me about your FB handle of "Senora Wilder."

I have already made a couple of comments on your blog. (Grace Shook's middle name was Virginia according to the North Carolina Death Collection), and I have entered into my genealogy file several facts from your blog, sourcing you as:Reunion in the Mountains, Tanya Shook Wilder, http://matneygathering2009.blogspot.com/

I keep my file on-line at rootsweb.com, except that data on the living are masked to protect privacy. My file is here:http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=wns

I always want to give proper credit to others for their research, and if you have any changes you wish me to make in how I have sourced you, or if you prefer I not even use your blog as a source, please let me know.

Just wanted to let you know I'm out here. ;-) if you or anyone else in the Larkin Michael branch is interested in sharing data, I can be contacted outside FB at: tree@summit366.net

Again, fine job on your blog.

Thanks and best wishes,Bill

PS: I admired your tribute to your grandmother Ruth, and added a link to it in the Notes section of my page for her:http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=wns&id=I17791

(Posted by Tanya Shook Wilder)

JULY 4, 2009 - OUR FAMILY REUNION

2009-08-04T15:25:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe two months have passed since the Shook / Michael family gathered in Matney for our family reunion. We're saying that about 175 people attended, and each of the three families, Grady & Myrtle Michael's, Ada & Tom Shook's, and Ruth & Hoyle Shook's, were represented. We'll call the photo above the offical reunion portrait, but several folks had left before it was taken. In this photo, we see children and grandchildren of the original three families.

The weather couldn't have cooperated with us any better. We had food for 350 people, and the photo show James Shook put together was spectacular. I am grateful to him, his brother, Larry, Billy Rominger, Myra Shook, and everyone else who helped us pull this gathering off. It was truly a labor of love, and by all the hugs that were exchanged, I think it might have been one of the greatest love gatherings ever.

By unanimous vote, our next gathering will be in two years, July 2011. Put the weekend closest to the 4th on your calendars and let's see if we can bring in all those who couldn't make it this time to enjoy another reunion in the mountains.

(posted by Tanya Shook Wilder)

TRIBUTE TO GRANDMA RUTH

2009-06-22T14:33:00.000-07:00

(written by Tanya Wilder, June 18, 2009)

Her body finally gave way this morning, and as she has told all of us for many a year now, Grandma died, "right here in my chair."

She'd had a restless night, and when my aunts and cousins got her up for the morning, it was evident she was struggling to breathe.

Peacefully, she let go... right there in her chair....

Ten children, eight of whom still live...Around 30 grandchildren...Numerous great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren...a woman of great faith....the best biscuit and gravy maker in the world...as strong as the mountains that surrounded her all her life...had the prettiest dahlia gardens in all the mountains...loved the hummingbirds who flocked to her feeders...possessed a dry humor and a cute little chuckle til the last day of her life...loved all her family through thick and thin....raised everything from a bountiful garden to baby groundhogs...when a neighbor was sick or died, folks called on Grandma for strength...spent days upon days on the ground in the mountains picking galax to sell for money to buy herself a few things...could squirt milk from the cow's udders straight into your mouth...never touched a drop of alcohol...as beautiful in passage as in life...

Other than my own mom, the most influential and loving woman in my life....

(With her second son, Rhonda Shook, in the photo above_

(Posted by Tanya Shook Wilder)

RUTH MICHAEL SHOOK

2009-06-21T19:55:00.000-07:00

Mrs. Ruth Michael Shook, age 107, of 2160 Pigeon Roost Road, Banner Elk, died Thursday, June 18, at her home.

Mrs. Shook was born January 29, 1902 in the Matney Community, a daughter of the late Greene and Etta Baird Michael. She was a homemaker and a member of White Rock Baptist Church.

Mrs. Shook is survived by five daughters; Ada Mildred Smith and husband Hade of Banner Elk, Pauline North of College Park, Georgia, and Audrey Rominger of Boone, Belinda Orr and huband Ken of Charlotte, and Joyce Wilson and husband Ken of Silver Spring, Maryland; three sons; Rhonda Shook and wife Gertrude of Millersville, Maryland, Bradley Shook and wife Mabel of Banner Elk, and Errol Shook and wife Patsy of Boone; one daughter-in-law, Mary Shook of Boone. She was also survived by 23 granchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, 29 great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Hoyle H. Shook; two sons, Larry and Zeb Shook; two sons-in-law, Gentry North and Bill Rominger; one sister, Ada Shook, and one brother, Grady Michael.

Funeral services for Mrs. Ruth Michael Shook will be conducted Saturday afternoon, June 20, 2009, at 2:00 o'clock, at White Rock Baptist Church on Pigeon Roost Road, Banner Elk. The body will lie in state, at the church, from 1:00 until 2:00 o'clock. Officiating will be Reverend Earl Carver, Jr. and Reverend Donald Smith. Burial will follow in White Rock Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will recieve friends Friday evening, from 6:30 until 8:00 o'clock, at Hampton Funeral Service.

Flowers are appreciated, or memorial contributions may be made to the White Rock Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, in care of Mildred Smith, 179 Hade Smith Drive, Banner Elk, North Carolina, 28604.

Online condolences may be sent to the Shook family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com.
Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, GOVERNOR, ATTORNEY GENERAL

2009-02-14T10:04:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the world of modern technology, I was able to find this photo of Tom Shook (son of Ada & Tom Shook) with his two sons, Tommy (L) and Nash (R). Uncle Tom lives in Clemmons, NC and now holds the distinction of being the oldest member of the Shook / Michael clan. Tommy lives in Greensboro, NC, and Nash is in Florida.

Nash and I just recently became friends on FaceBook, and it's from his Facebook page that I found this photo. I'm hoping all six of Uncle Tom's children will be in Matney for the reunion. I always thought they had the neatest family, and I remember many, many good times of all of us playing together either down at Uncle Tom and Aunt Ada's or up at Grandma and Grandpa Shook's house.

(Posted by Tanya S. Wilder)

IDA PAULINE SHOOK NORTH

2009-02-01T10:14:00.000-08:00

I'm posting information today on my Aunt Pauline since she's been through a recent surgery and is in cardiac rehabilitation in Atlanta, GA. A little over a week ago, she had quadruple by-pass surgery following a heart attack. Just a couple of days ago, she was moved to rehabilitation. Audrey, Linda, Errol, and Billy Rominger have visited her during her illness, and currently her step-children are looking in on her in the rehabilitation center in Atlanta.

The third of the Ruth/Hoyle Shook clan, Pauline completed her RN studies at Grace Memorial Hospital in Banner Elk, NC. Her supervisor, who just happened to be her sister-in-law (Steve Shook), remembers Pauline as a meticulous student who was, at times, painstakingly slow about getting things done.

Just recently, Betty Romano sent me the following memory about when Pauline visited Betty's family in Alcoa, TN. Betty writes, "She came to visit us in Alcoa and brought a bottle of Tigress perfume and a bright red satin long sleeve blouse. She took our bicycle and rode all over Alcoa wearing the red satin blouse and ultra short shorts .... and finally she brought home a fellow ... our minister's son. I think she was still in nursing school, I was still in high school. I had just begun to date a little and she talked me into double dating with her and this fellow. I can't remember what we did that evening but when we came home, she and the fellow sat on our porch swing, and my beau and I sat on the steps and talked. I don't think she said two words that whole night and I really don't remember any more of her visit other than she was always spraying that Tigress perfume on her neck, smelled nice but wow - was it powerful! I remember her being beautiful with her long dark hair blowing in the wind as she kept riding past our house on the bike."

When I talked to Aunt Pauline at Christmas, she sounded fragile and weak, but when I mentioned the family reunion, she said she'd try her best to get there. My hope is that her health will allow her to travel so we can all give her a hug in Matney in July.

(Posted by Tanya Shook Wilder)

DULCIE RUTH SHOOK TURNS 107 ON JANUARY 20, 2009

2009-02-01T09:58:00.000-08:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GRANDMA RUTH!!

This past Thursday, January 29, 2009, Dulcie Ruth Michael Shook celebrated her 107th birthday. The following link will take you to a small article that appeared in the online publication GoBlueRidge.Net. I hope the comments folks made appear at this connection as well.

http://www.goblueridge.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5599&Itemid=1

I took this photo of her this past Christmas Day. She was alert, knew everyone, asked me to "get her a bite to eat," and wanted everyone to sing for her. My mom and Aunt Audrey visited her on Thursday, and when Mom asked her how old she was, Grandma replied rather forcefully, "I'm 107 years old today!"

My love for my grandmother is larger than the Universe, and I feel infinitely blessed she's been around to guide all of us throughout our lives. We are truly blessed.

(Posted by Tanya Shook Wilder)

CARROLL LINNEY SHOOK

2009-01-27T16:53:00.000-08:00

The oldest grandchild of Greene & Etta Michael and James & Sally, Carroll L. Shook, passed away on January 4, 2009. Here is his obituary from The Watauga Democrat (published today, January 27th).

Senior Master Sergeant Carroll L. Shook, USAF (Ret.), died at the age of 89 in Tucson, Ariz., on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009.He was born on June 29, 1919 in Valle Crucis, N.C., to Thomas T. Shook, Sr. and Ada Michael Shook. Mr. Shook graduated from Cove Creek High School in 1938 and enlisted in the Civilian Conservation Corps. After his discharge he returned to his home in Valle Crucis where he worked on his grandparent’s farm and the apple orchard of the Valle Crucis Episcopal Church.In February, 1941, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Medical Corps and began a military career of 31 years active service. After serving in New Guinea and the Philippines during World War II, he rotated to the U.S. in 1945 and enlisted in what was then known as the U.S. Army Air Corps and later the U.S. Air Force. Assignments with these branches of the U.S. military have taken him all over the U.S. and the world including a tour of duty in Vietnam.While stationed in Germany he met Angela Kempf Rapp of Wiesbaden whom he married in 1952 and who preceded him in death after 47 years of marriage. After retiring from the Air Force he went to work for the Northrop Corporation in Saudi Arabia for ten years and returned to Tucson in 1985. There he and his wife settled down and enjoyed camping and fishing in the White Mountains and receiving family and friends who came to visit from all over the world.Although a man of modest means, Carroll gave generously to many worthy causes and organizations. He was a life member of the Air Force Association, the Air Force Sergeants Association, American Legion, the Good Sams, the National Association for Uniformed Services, the National Rifle Association, the North American Fishing Club, the Non-Commissioned Officers Association, the Retired Enlisted Association and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.When asked why he chose military as a career, he said that remembering what it was like to work a small farm in the mountains of North Carolina during the Depression helped him to make up his mind at re-enlistment time.Survivors include his second wife, Elaine Glynn; son, Eric O. Shook; daughter, Monika Griesenbeck; brothers, Thomas F. Shook, Arthur Q. Shook, and Stuart H. Shook; grandson, Peter Griesenbeck; and granddaughters, Tracie Martinsen and Sandra Shook.

NOTE: Uncle Tom sent me this photo of Uncle Carroll shortly after Carroll's death earlier this month. On the back of it, Uncle Carroll had written the following words: "I still get into my old uniform. Angie (who was obviously taking the photo) was trying to make me laugh, and I was trying not to."

(posted by Tanya Shook Wilder)

IF IT WEREN'T FOR THESE PEOPLE, NONE OF THE REST OF US WOULD BE HERE...

2008-12-26T07:17:00.001-08:00

Here are the photos I sent to family members who have e-mail. Enjoy the photos, and make your plans to be in Matney on July 4th, 2009!!

Grady & Myrtle Michael on their wedding day...

Ruth, Hoyle & ? Shook

Tom Shook and boys - Quentin (L) & Stuart (R)

Ada May Michael Shook

(Posted by Tanya Shook Wilder)

RUTH MICHAEL SHOOK'S SIGNATURE - AUGUST, 2007

2008-12-05T11:59:00.000-08:00

I've been meaning to get this scanned and on the blog for a while now. This summer when I was with Grandma, I handed her a piece of paper and a pencil. She "studied" the pencil for a moment, and then she wrote her name twice. What a treasure...Grandma signs in with her name at 106 1/2 years old. I think she did quite well, really.

(Posted by Tanya Shook Wilder)

THANKSGIVING 2009

2008-12-02T07:48:00.000-08:00

Enjoy these photos I took down at Grandma & Grandpa Michael's old homeplace over Thanksgiving.

It was an overcast while Billy and I were down at the homeplace. This photo is taken from the creek bed that ran behind the house. You can see what remains of the chimney (a back side view) and the old apple tree that still stands in what would have been the back yard.

Here's the chimney, the only remainder of Grandma & Grandpa's house that once stood there. It looks like someone burned down the house and then dozed the trash in front of the chimney. Billy and I tried to look through the trash for any treasures that might have been left, but the pile is pretty much just the tin from off the roof. I do love the old chimney and hope whoever buys the land will not tear it down.

Grandpa's old barn...No treasures left inside, unfortunately. This side of the barn would have been the side one would have seen while standing on the front porch of the old house.

Dulcie Ruth Michael Shook - Thanksgiving Day, 2009--

106 years, 10 months old

She told me she was happy.

(Posted by Tanya Shook Wilder)

ETTA & GREENE MICHAEL

2008-11-28T12:14:00.001-08:00

After Grandma Michael fell and broke her hip, she and Granddaddy came to live with Ruth & Hoyle Shook. My dad took this photo of the two of them in the living room at Grandma Shook's house. If you could see Ruth today, she looks very much like Grandma Michael in this photo. The piano in this picture still stands in her living room in the exact same place. On top of the piano today, you'd find photos of Ruth and Ada, of a lot of the grandchildren, and an old photo of Larkin and Martha Michael. In the next post, I'll write about being with Grandma yesterday at Thanksgiving, but for now, I wanted to get this photo on the blog.

Hope all had a Happy Thanksgiving!

(Posted by Tanya Shook Wilder)

MICHAEL BROTHERS

2008-10-08T18:33:00.000-07:00

This photo is not the best in the world, but it gives us a good shot of Greene & Walt Michael. I don't remember exactly when my dad took this shot, but I know it was taken at Uncle Walter's house. I remember I was along with Daddy and Grandpa. I think it was when Daddy was trying to get all of Grandpa's brothers and sisters together for a reunion.

Anyway, I love their hats, and I love Uncle Walter's expression. They're sorta like a Mutt & Jeff combo from the hills! Does anyone have any good stories about Uncle Walt?

(Posted by Tanya Shook Wilder)

I HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN ABOUT OUR FAMILY BLOG

2008-10-08T13:33:00.000-07:00

To all those who might be looking for more posts on our blog,

Please know that I haven't forgotten about our family blog, but once school started, I've been so swamped that I haven't gotten around to posting any more family photos. I'll be back with time, but for now, I'd love to invite anyone in the Shook / Michael clan to hop in and add a post...or posts....or lots of posts...

Love to all....Tanya

HOMER LARRY SHOOK (1935 - 1956)

2008-09-09T18:40:00.000-07:00

Here is a photo of Larry Shook, the 7th of Ruth and Hoyle's 10 children. Tragically, he was killed in a car accident while traveling home to Pigeon Roost from Maryland, where he had been working with his brother, Rhonda, at that time .

My Aunt Mildred and I talked on the phone about Larry tonight for a good half hour. She said his personality was different from the other boys. She described him as easy-going, sweet, good and tender-hearted, a young boy without a temper.

When he was little, he had a serious infection in his lungs that required him to stay three months in the hospital in Banner Elk. My mom, Steve Shook, talks about what a good patient he was and how all the nurses loved him and spoiled him to death. She talks about how she used to let him put on her glasses when she had to care for him to divert his attention.

Once Larry got home from the hospital, he lost a year of school because he had to stay at home to recuperate. According to Aunt Mildred, he never fussed, and he always helped Grandma (Ruth Shook) around the house while the other children were at home. As she crocheted and quilted, Larry learned as well.

If anyone else has memories of Larry, send them to me, and I'll post them OR you post them on the blog yourself. It has been heartwarming to learn more about him as I write in his memory and honor on this post.

(Posted by Tanya Shook Wilder)

MEET THE ROMANOS (BETTY ANN MICHAEL ROMANO & FAMILY)

2008-09-02T11:55:00.001-07:00

Grady and Myrtle Michael's oldest child, Betty Ann, and her husband, Ray, now live in Vero Beach, Florida. Their children, however, reside with their families in Louisville, KY. All of them plan to attend the family reunion in July, 2009.

Betty just recently sent me these photos.

Betty (Michael) & Ray Romano

Betty & Ray's daughter, Jennifer Romano Tanner, and family..

(Left to right: Steven, Jennifer, Emily, Michael Tanner)

Betty & Ray's son, Tom, and family

(From L to R: Christina... 15...attends Sacred Heart Academy in Louisville... Art
Stephanie...19...attends Western KY University... Journalism
Sherri..the Mom...Teacher and every thing else that goes with being a Mom...
Tom... the Dad...YUM Corp
Nicholas... the littlest one, in front)

(Posted by Tanya Shook Wilder)

BROTHERS - BRADLEY, ZEB, & RHONDA

2008-08-29T12:49:00.000-07:00

I just received this photo from my Uncle Rhonda Shook. I don't know when it was taken, but I am inclined to think it must have been at their father's funeral back in November, 1985. If anyone knows different, let me know. The photo was taken in Grandma & Grandpa's front yard. The bush behind them still stands.

(Bradley, Zeb, Rhonda Shook)

(Posted by Tanya Shook Wilder)

HOYLE, GRACE, AND TOM

2008-08-27T18:13:00.001-07:00

Taken at the family reunion (circa 1955/56) at Tom and Ada Shook's house, this is one of the two photos I've seen of the Shook siblings together in their adult years.

(I'm noticing that in each of the photos taken that day, the person on the left (as we look at the photo) is a bit blurry and out of focus. It must have been the camera since all the shots are that way.)

One of my (now) fondest memories of Aunt Grace is one that took place one day when Billy Rominger (Audrey Shook Rominger's younger son) and I were sent to pick up Aunt Grace to bring her over to Pigeon Roost for a family gathering. I don't recall what the get-together was all about, but Billy and I, who were about 16 at the time, for asked to drive up Grandfather Mountain Road to Aunt Grace's house.

Evidently, she was unaware we were coming. Maybe she didn't have a phone back then. I distinctly remember Billy knocking at the screen door, hearing Aunt Grace shuffling around, looking in through the screen, and seeing her coming to the door with a shotgun in her hand! She thought we were there to break in her house or something, and she wasn't going to let that happen. Billy and I turned to each other and started screaming, "Aunt Grace, it's Audrey and Zeb's kids! We've come to pick you up to take you to Pigeon Roost!! Aunt Grace, we're Hoyle's grandchildren!" We were petrified!

It took a some convincing, but Aunt Grace finally agreed to get in the car with us and go "over to Hoyle's." As I recall, Billy was driving, and he went really slow down the road, through Banner Elk, and over to Pigeon Roost. I sat in the back seat, not knowing at that point in time whether I was going to laugh out loud or cry!

To this day, Billy and I laugh about our escapade with Aunt Grace. Shortly thereafter, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and passed away, but the memory of that day will be with Billy and me forever.

(Posted by Tanya Shook Wilder)

JACK MICHAEL'S FAMILY

2008-08-26T13:52:00.000-07:00

Jack Micael, his wife, Dot, and their children, Terri and Tim, live in Georgia. Jack is Grady Michael's youngest child. I remember him and Dot bringing the kids to visit us in Boone when Myra and I were little and the happiness their visits always brought my father. Here are a couple of photos Jack recently emailed me. (I apologize for the small photos, but Blogger reduced the jpeg size automatically.)

(Tim, Terri, Dot & Jack)

Jack & Dot's grandchildren and great grandchildren

~Front Row L-R:
Jarrett (Tim's oldest), Baby Mattie (Holly's youngest) (The girl holding is a friend, Lindsey), Jasper (Heather's oldest)
Second Row L-R
Holly (Terri's youngest) Katie (Holly's oldest), Tanner (Heather's youngest), Amelia (Tim's youngest), Heather (Terri's oldest)~

(Posted by Tanya Shook Wilder)

SISTERS - RUTH & ADA

2008-08-24T20:54:00.000-07:00

I love these photos of Ada & Ruth. I think the first was taken at the Matney Community Center for Grandma's (Ruth's) 90th birthday. I'm not sure where or when the second was taken, but obviously, it was a few years earlier.

(Posted by Tanya Shook Wilder)

SISTERS - ETTA & ETHEL

2008-08-24T20:34:00.000-07:00

I have no idea when this picture was taken of (Mary) Etta Beard Michael and Ethel Beard Triplett. I have a vague memory of Aunt Ethel from when my family would go over to Cove Creek to visit Aunt Ethel's daughter, Mae Edmisten and her husband, Howard. (I always called them Aunt Mae and Uncle Howard, and I knew them fairly well since they attended our church in Boone and my dad fished a lot with Uncle Howard.)

Does anyone have any stories about Grandma Michael and Aunt Ethel? And, can anyone answer the question as to their last name? Is it Baird or Beard? Somewhere along the way, I've heard that Beard got changed to Baird, but I don't know the accuracy of that memory.

(On an entirely different note, I again invite anyone to add a post to the family blog. It's really quite simple. E-mail me for instructions if you lost the ones I sent when I started the blog, and I'll give you a really easy tutorial. Or you can leave a comment on the blog, and I'll get in touch with you from there.)

(Posted by Tanya Shook Wilder)

YOUNG SHOOKS

2008-08-23T05:46:00.000-07:00

Here's seven of ten of Ruth and Hoyle's children. This was taken during the Depression years, probably around 1934 or 1935, based on the fact that Zeb was born in 1920, and he looks to be about 14 or 15.

(Back row: Pauline, Mildred, Zeb

In front of them: Audrey, Bradley, Larry

Rhonda in front by himself)

Question: Would anyone know anything about the history of this photo? Who might have taken it? etc.

(Posted by Tanya Shook Wilder)

GRADY & MYRTLE MICHAEL & FAMILY

2008-08-20T17:59:00.000-07:00

The youngest child of Etta & Green Michael was their only son, Grady. He, his wife, Myrtle, and children, Betty Ann, Paul, and Jack lived in Maryville, TN, a good ways away from their relatives back up around Banner Elk.

In a recent email to me, Betty Ann wrote, "He (Grady)was so cute, and I loved him so much... short in stature and full of humor.. said he had to get out of Banner Elk because of the rocks he had to hoe out of the mountain side for a garden made him so short. He used to wake us up with an old trumpet. His favorite saying... "Get up, get your feet on the rock, it's not too late but it's 4 o'clock"... Figure that one out, we couldn't... "

Thanks to John Michael, Grady's grandson, for the photo below. The second one is one that I found in my parents' old album. I don't know the history of either.

(Myrtle & Grady Michael)

(Betty Ann, Myrtle, Paul, behind his brother, Jack)

(Posted by Tanya Shook Wilder)

TOM SHOOK & HIS SONS

2008-08-19T07:13:00.000-07:00

From what I can discern from some photos I found in one of my parents' albums, there must have been a family reunion at Tom & Ada Shook's house around 1955 or 1956 or so. I arrive at that "guestimate" because the youngest of the relatives in the photos is Betty Dalton Shook (Telford), and in one of the photos she's not quite a toddler. I'm in one of the photos, and I appear to be three or four.

In time, I'll post more photos from that gathering, but today, I want to put up this one that was taken that day of Tom Shook and his sons.

(From left to right: Tom Shook, Jr., Carroll Shook, Tom Shook, Sr., Quentin Shook, Stuart Shook)

I've also found a photo of Aunt Ada as a younger woman, but I have to get it on the computer and enhanced.

Question: Does anyone remember the gathering at Tom & Ada's? Any idea what year it would have been? Any stories from that day?

(Posted by Tanys Shook Wilder)

DELICIOUS TREATS

2008-08-18T13:37:00.000-07:00

I have wonderful childhood memories of visiting my grandparents, Hoyle Hayes and Dulcie Ruth Michael Shook, on Sunday afternoons. Tanya and I would run into the house to see what treats Grandma would have cooked that day! Tanya always went for the biscuits, but my favorites were the cookies! They were so big and tasted more like a small cake than a cookie.

My Aunt Linda (Belinda Shook Orr) got the cookie recipe from Grandma Shook. This was no easy task since there were no measurements to the recipe! Grandma simply used her hands to measure portions!! So one day, Linda assisted Grandma in baking the cookies, and as Grandma threw in a handful of sugar or a pinch of whatever, Linda measured the ingredients!!

The following is the recipe for cookies originally baked by Grandma's mother, Etta Beard Michael. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have over the years!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup milk
3 eggs
2 cups of sugar
1/2 cup butter (no margarine please!!)
3 or 4 tablespoons of vanilla

* Beat the above ingredients together until smooth.
* Add in self-rising flour until the dough is very stiff. Linda says it equals about 51/2 to 6 cups of self-rising flour.
* Divide the dough into 3 portions. Knead portions in flour until they are not sticky.
* Roll out each portion 1/4" and cut out cookies. If they are sticky, work in more flour.
* Bake at 400 degress until golden brown!!!

Enjoy!

(Posted by Myra Shook, Zeb Shook's younger daughter)

GRANDPA MICHAEL'S PARENTS

2008-08-16T10:24:00.001-07:00

Larkin & Martha (Green) Michael

I just talked to my uncle, Rhonda Shook, on the phone to find out if he had any memories of Grandpa Larkin and Grandma Martha. He chuckled, and this is what he told me:

"I remember seeing Grandpa Larkin settin' on the front porch of his homeplace a-chewin' tobacca. He's put his fingers up in a V-shape and spit right through them."

I asked Uncle Rhonda what Grandpa Larkin did, and he said, "I don't believe none of the Michaels had a public job. They lived off the land. They might sell a few 'taters along the way, and they'd sell wool. All the Michaels had sheep. Havin' sheep must have come over to this country with them. I remember them shearin' sheep and sellin' the wool."

Thanks to Betty Ann (Michael) Romano for emailing me this picture. And, thanks to Uncle Rhonda for entertaining me over the phone with more wonderful stories.

Question: Does anyone have other information or stories about Grandpa Larkin & Grandma Martha?

(Posted by Tanya Shook Wilder)

AND THE WINNER FOR THE LARGEST FAMILY GOES TO...

2008-08-15T09:59:00.000-07:00

Ruth (Michael) & Hoyle Shook's family of 10!

( Back row (l to r) : Zeb, Rhonda

Middle row: Pauline, Audrey, Joyce, Ruth, Hoyle

Front row: Errol, Linda Mildred (kneeling), Bradley, Larry)

(Thanks to Joyce (Shook) Wilson for the photo. I believe it is the only one of the entire family together.)

Posted by Tanya Shook Wilder

WHERE WE ALL COME FROM - THE MICHAEL SIDE

2008-08-14T12:22:00.001-07:00

Grandma Michael (Etta Beard Michael) on the back porch at the old homeplace in the valley below the "s-curve."

Grandpa Michael (Riley Green Michael)

Question: Would anyone have a photos of Grandpa and Grandma Michael with all three of their children? (Ruth, Ada, & Grady)....

(Posted by Tanya Shook Wilder)

WHERE WE ALL COME FROM - THE SHOOK SIDE

2008-08-14T12:07:00.000-07:00

Above: James Dalton Shook, Sally Hayes Gragg Shook, Grace Shook (Gwaltney), Hoyle Hayes Shook, Thomas Frederick Shook

Above: Grandaddy Jimmie (James Dalton) Shook, Grandma Sally (Hayes Gragg) Shook (seated)

Hoyle Hayes Shook, Grace Shook, Thomas Frederick Shook (standing)

Questions: Does anyone know Aunt Grace's full name?

(Posted by Tanya Shook Wilder)

WELCOME TO OUR FAMILY BLOG

2008-08-14T10:46:00.000-07:00

While I was home in Boone this past week, I talked to my cousin, Larry Shook, and he came up with the idea of trying to get a family website up and running for our upcoming family reunion in July, 2009. Since I really know nothing about websites, I opted instead to start a Shook / Michael family blog so that any member of the family with access to a computer could check in, post a photo, write a post, add commentary, etc.

In a separate email, I'll send all the information you'll need to get to the blog just to read it, as well as to log-in and add anything you'd like to post. One of the things I'd like to use it for is to help identify people who are in family photos whose faces I don't recognize.

I encourage all of you to use the blog however you enjoy it most. Please feel free to post, upload a photo, or ask a question. It's just another way we can all get to know each other better and better as we plan on coming together in July of next year.

Love to all....Tanya

(Posted by Tanya Shook Wilder - Zeb's oldest daughter)