Marie L. Shook, age 102, of Leo, Ind., and a former longtime Sturgis resident and school teacher, passed away Friday afternoon, March 12, 2010, at the Cedars Nursing Home in Leo, Ind.
She was born Jan. 31, 1908 in White Pigeon, a daughter to the late Cleveland and Alta (Weagley) Bixler.
She had moved to Leo, Ind., in 2006 to be closer to family members.
Prior to that Mrs. Shook had resided nearly her entire life in the Sturgis and White Pigeon area and was a graduate of White Pigeon High School with the class of 1926. Mrs. Shook continued her education at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo where she received a bachelor’s degree of arts in education.
On Dec. 15 1929, she married Paul E. Shook in LaGrange, Ind. He died March 15, 1982.
She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Sturgis where she was a member of the United Methodist Women and the Ruth Circle. She was also a member of the Michigan Association of Retired School Personnel. Mrs. Shook was proud to have traveled to all 50 states.
She is survived by two daughters, Doris Recht of Fort Wayne, Ind., and Lois Green of Polk City, Fla.; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; two step-great grandchildren; one sister, Myrtle Wright of Las Vegas, Nev.; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two brothers, Carl Bixler and Earl Bixler; and three sisters, Esther Sechler, Florence Shaffer and Kathleen Tracey.
The family will receive friends from noon -1:45 p.m. Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church in Sturgis where funeral services celebrating the life of Marie Shook will begin at 2 p.m. Wednesday. The Rev. Deb Johnson will officiate. A graveside committal will follow the service at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Sturgis.
The Hackman Family Funeral Homes Hackman Chapel of Sturgis is handling the arrangements.
The family suggests those wishing to make a memorial donation in Mrs. Shook’s memory consider the First United Methodist Church, 200 Pleasant Ave., Sturgis, MI 49091.