Mary Lou Hawkins Shook

Mary Lou Hawkins Shook, 89, of Leicester, passed away on Tuesday, January 2, 2018, at Mission Hospital after a brief illness. Mary Lou was born in Buncombe Co. on February 23, 1928, to the late Mark and Jennieve Henson Hawkins. She was a lifelong resident of Buncombe Co. Mary Lou was Miss Leicester Junior 1940 and was a 1945 graduate of Leicester High School. She married her longtime love, Carroll Edwin Shook, on June 13, 1947. She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church, in Leicester. She loved gardening and always had beautiful flowers around the house. She was an excellent cook and loved baking sweets. Some of her favorite outings in later years were the Moose Restaurant, Harbor Inn, and Burger King. She managed a family that grew up on the farm and provided all the necessities for a very fruitful life. None of the children went without. Both Carroll and Mary Lou instilled the skills necessary for their children to grow and prosper. The guidance they provided through the years will be greatly missed. In addition to her parents, Mary Lou was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Carroll Edwin “Red” Shook, who died in July, 2015; their infant son, Michael Keith Shook; sisters, Margaret and Eunice Hawkins, Viola Dean, and Barbara Ward; and brother, William Hawkins. She is survived by her children, Katherine Towles and husband Mike, Edwin Shook and wife Pat, all of Leicester, Earl Shook and wife Beth, of Port St. Lucie, FL, and Kevin Shook, of Brevard, NC; siblings, Lela Porche, of Dandridge, TN, and Jack Hawkins, of Candler; seven grandchildren: Michelle Hudgins (Steve), Brian Towles (Linda), John Towles (Tonya), Stefanie Effler (Mike), all of Leicester, Doug Shook (Katie), of Edmonds, WA, Jason Shook (Yomi), of Port St. Lucie, FL, and Bonnie Shook, of Mountain Home, NC; and 12 great-grandchildren: Ashleigh and Jared Hudgins, Brooke, Lucas and Riley Towles, Houston and Gracie Towles, Michaela and Miranda Effler, all of Leicester, Emma Shook, of Edmonds, WA, and Tanner and Kolton Garren, of Mountain Home; and one great-great-grandchild, Paisley Perry. Her family will receive friends from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday at Grace United Methodist Church, Leicester. At other times the family will be at 38 Hayes Cove Rd., Leicester. Funeral services for Mrs. Shook will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday at Grace United Methodist Church with the Rev. David Green officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Her grandsons and great-grandsons will serve as pallbearers. The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to the 9th floor staff at Mission St. Joseph Campus for the kind and compassionate care that was given to their mother. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Grace United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o John Towles, 40 Hayes Cove Rd., Leicester, NC 28748.