J. Rosemary Shockey

J. Rosemary Shockey, 92, of Freeport, and former Ridott resident, died, Wednesday, March 12, 2014 at Freeport Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center. Born April 22, 1921 in rural Lena, Illinois to Charles N. and Lavina (Lobdell) Schoeny. On July 25, 1948 she and Donald L. Shockey were married in rural Lena on the Charles Schoeny farm. Donald predeceased her on December 3, 1990. After graduating from Lena High School in the class of 1939, she graduated from Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. She was an elementary school teacher for 30 years, beginning her career in one-room rural schools in Stephenson County, then teaching in Freeport at the Lincoln School, North Ridott School, Ridott Village Town School and finished her teaching career at Empire School, in Freeport District 145. Rosemary's love of teaching and education inspired her family to honor her by the dedication of the J. Rosemary Shockey HCC Bookstore in September, 2013. She was a member of the Stephenson County Retired Teachers Association, a life member of Illinois and National Retired Teacher's Association. She served 15 years on the Highland Community College Foundation, and was later an Honorary Member. Other organizations included: the Home and Community Education Association, Rock Run Unit and serving as the County HCEA Secretary, Freeport Women's Club as Secretary and the Stephenson County Farm Bureau. She enjoyed teaching, helping children learn, gardening and serving people. Rosemary was a past member of the First Baptist Church of Freeport where she was an active member of the Ambassador Sunday School class. More recently she became a member of Zion Church of Freeport. Surviving Rosemary are two daughters, Jewel Shockey, of Freeport, and Joan (Bill) Knutsen, of Seattle, Washington and her son, David D. Shockey of Ridott. Also surviving her is one brother, Gerald Schoeny, and three sisters, JoAnn Schoeny, Anna Marie Schoeny and Sylvia Stevenson. She was predeceased in death by her parents, her husband, one brother, Charles Hugh Schoeny, two sisters, Doris Richards and Betty Mills, two sisters-in-law and three brothers-in-law. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Zion Church. Rev. Gardy Cronk will officiate. Visitation will be Wednesday, 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. at Burke Tubbs Funeral Home, Freeport. Burial will be in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. A memorial fund has been established in memory of J. Rosemary Shockey and contributions will be made to Zion Church of Freeport and the Highland Community College Foundation. Please sign the guestbook and share a memory at www.burketubbs.com.