Bonnie Shook

BONNIE FRANCIS SHOOK

Clyde-Bonnie Francis Shook, age 88, died Saturday, October 19, 2002 at her home, 3414 Broad Street, Clyde, after a period of declining health.

She was born in the Crabtree community of Haywood County to Coman Ratcliff and Lyda Shook Francis on December 11, 1913. She was married to Joyce Howard "Babe" Shook, who died in 1952. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a brother, Hillard, and two sisters, Thelma and Billie.

Mrs. Shook was a retired school teacher, having taught for 42 years at Clyde Elementary School. During this time, she was a great character builder, influencing for good the lives of a countless number of students. She had a love for each child and was able to inspire and motivate every student to reach his fullest potential. In 1975 she was recognized by the Western North Carolina Education Association as Teacher of the Year. She received her education at Haywood Institute, Clyde High School, Mars Hill College, Duke Summer School, and Western Carolina University. She was a member of several professional educational organizations, including being a charter member of the Haywood Alpha Rho Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, an honorary teacher's sorority.

Christ and His church were a very important part of her life. She was raised a Baptist, but joined the Clyde Central United Methodist Church following her marriage. She was very active in all aspects of the church - working in the vacation church school, leading youth activities, teaching Sunday school, serving on the administrative board, being the church's historian, delivering church tapes and Meals on Wheels to shut-ins, and receiving an honorary life membership in the United Methodist Women.

Mrs. Shook was an excellent speaker, an inspiring story-teller, and a reciter of poetry. She was very gracious to share these talents and provided numerous programs for the various organizations to which she belonged. She was a Past Matron and member of the Clyde chapter #188 Order of the Eastern Star, past president and member of the Clyde Woman's Club, past president and member of the local American Association of Retired Persons, and chairperson when the Community Watch Program was organized in Clyde.

Surviving are one son, Coman Howard Shook and his wife, Jean, of Hamilton, Ohio; a daughter, Frances Sharon Shook of Greenville, South Carolina and Clyde; two grandchildren, Derrick Shook and his wife, Lori, and Donna Shook Menke and her husband, David, all of Cincinnati, Ohio; and six great-grandchildren, Katie, Hannah, Gillian, and Brendan Menke, and James and Devin Shook.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 22, 2002 in the chapel of Wells Funeral Homes in Canton with the Reverend Chris Westmoreland and the Reverend Dr. W. T. Medlin officiating. Serving as pallbearers are Richard Hannah, Milton Brown, Carl Gillis, Glenn William Brown, Monroe Bueker, Joe Williams, Keith Robertson, and Ruben Cortez. Burial will be in the Bon-A-Venture Cemetery on the Old Clyde Road. The family will receive friends from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. on Monday, October 21, 2002 at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the Clyde Central United Methodist Church, PO Box 8, Clyde, NC 28721, Citizens for Bon-A-Venture, PO Box 531, Canton, NC 28716, Hospice of Haywood County, Home Health Bldg., 560 Leroy George Drive, Clyde, NC 28721, or to a charity of one's choice.

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