IDA PAULINE SHOOK NORTH

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

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

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...

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

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

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

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)