Jean Wells Shook

Jean Wells Shook, age 87, of Mt. Pleasant, IA died on Tuesday, September 01, 2015 at Park Place Elder Living. A visitation will be held Saturday, September 12, 2015 from 2-4 p.m. at the Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel where the family will receive friends. A Celebration of Life Service will begin at 4 p.m. on Sunday, September 13th at the First Presbyterian Church with Pastor Trey Hegar officiating. A private inurnment will be held prior to the memorial service at Forest Home Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for the First Presbyterian Church, Iowa Wesleyan College Music Department, and Sweet Adelines International Young Women in Harmony. She was born March 15, 1928, to Dr. Claude C. Wells and Hazel Grace Allen Wells at Springville, Iowa. She attended the Springville schools until her junior year when she transferred to Mt. Pleasant following the death of her parents. She made her home with her aunt and uncle, Beulah and James Cornick. Following graduation from high school, she attended Iowa Wesleyan College. On June 4, 1947, she married Allan D. Shook in Mt. Pleasant. He died July 2013. Mrs. Shook was an agent in the Shook Insurance Agency, a homemaker and piano teacher. She was active in the First Presbyterian Church, the Chapel Renovation Committee of Iowa Wesleyan College, a member of Alpha Xi Delta Sorority and Sweet Adelines International. For twenty-six years she directed the local Sweet Adeline chorus. During these years, Mrs. Shook served on the Sweet Adelines International board of directors, was a judge in the Music category, a member of the international faculty, and in 2005 was awarded Certified Music Arranger Emeritus. In 2006 she was awarded a lifetime membership. She had several arrangements published by the organization. She sang lead in the Galatones quartet who won the Sweet Adelines International championship in 1968 and traveled for the USO in 1971 to the Far East during the Viet Nam War, visiting hospitals. In 1999 she organized Acappella, a local women's singing group. Mrs. Shook wrote and produced a musical, "Springtown", about her growing up years in Springville, Iowa. Survivors include her daughters, Lynn Ellsworth (Tom) of Mt. Pleasant, IA and Becky Williams (Michael) of Colorado Springs, CO; sister Margaret (Arnold) DeJaynes of New London, IA; 4 granddaughters; 2 step granddaughters; 5 great granddaughters; 2 step great grandsons; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Allan; sister, Dorothy, who died in infancy; her brother, John Wells; and her parents. Cemetery Details Forest Home Cemetery South Walnut Street Mt. Pleasant, IA, 52641 Families will greet SEP 12. 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel 709 Mapleleaf Drive Mt Pleasant, IA, US, 52641 olsonpowell@lisco.com Visitation SEP 12. 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel 709 Mapleleaf Drive Mt Pleasant, IA, US, 52641 olsonpowell@lisco.com Memorial Service SEP 13. 04:00 PM First Presbyterian Church 902 South Walnut Street Mt. Pleasant, IA, US, 52641 www.firstpsby@iowatelecom.net http://www.firstpresbyonline.org