RUTH MICHAEL SHOOK

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

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

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)