LT COL and Mrs. Colonel & Elaine (Judson and Elaine Shook) Shook Jr.

Elaine Smith Elaine Claire Smith Elaine Shook Elaine Smith Shook Elaine Claire Smith Shook ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jud Shook Judson Shook C. Judson Shook, Jr. Colonel Judson Shook, Jr. LT COL Colonel Judson Shook, Jr. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Elaine Claire Smith Shook (1926 - 2012) Shook, Elaine Claire Smith (March 18, 1926 - April 26, 2012) Elaine Claire Smith Shook, 86, born March 18, 1926, to David and Mathilda "Tillie" Smith in Cape Girardeau, MO, passed away peacefully of respiratory failure on April 26, 2012, at her residence in Richardson, with her daughter Lela by her side. Elaine was preceded in death on April 24, 2010, by her husband of 62 years, LT COL C. Judson Shook, Jr., three-time war veteran, recipient of Bronze Star medal, and former Director of Transportation for the City of Richardson and Director of Public Works for Dallas County, during which time he was responsible for salvaging the Texas School Book Depository for Dallas County, which is now the Sixth Floor Museum. Elaine and Judson spent part of their childhoods in DeRidder, Louisiana, and were high school sweethearts and fellow cheerleaders at DeRidder High School, marrying after he graduated from the US Naval Academy in August 1948. She was great friends with her future mother-in-law, Lela Frazar Bourgeois, who owned the town boutique and was instrumental in their courtship, knowing what a beautiful, charming, and intelligent wife Elaine would make for her son. She devotedly served our nation as a Navy and Air Force officer's wife until Judson retired in 1969 to become Director of Public Works for Dallas County, enduring with grace the many uprootings and relocations for Judson's reassignments. No matter where they were stationed, she showed her love for her family by creating a beautiful home. She demonstrated her great strength and determination by raising their son and daughter alone while Judson was deployed overseas to serve in the Korean War while he was in the US Navy, and in the Vietnam War after his transfer to the US Air Force. Her father was a respected dairy farmer in Oklahoma and Louisiana. She lost her sweet mother, Tillie, when she was 23, before her children were born. They were life-long Methodists, although she was proud of her father's rich Mennonite heritage. She was the second youngest of five siblings, and is survived by her younger brother, Warren Smith, of Duncanville, TX, who was also Judson's best friend. Brothers, Dr. Irving Smith and Dr. Norman Smith, and sister, Ruby Smith Bennett, preceded her in death. The Smith children were highly intelligent, well educated, accomplished in music, and collectively raised 15 Smith descendants. She cherished her brothers and sister, and loved to sing with them at family gatherings. Elaine graduated ('47) with high distinction from The Southwestern Louisiana Institute of Liberal and Technical Learning, Lafayette, LA, with a BA in music. A gifted vocalist and choir director, she also played viola. She graduated with the highest scholastic average in Iota Omicron Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota, and was a published poet and a "Who's Who in American Colleges." Her love of music and education led her to teach junior high school music while the family was stationed in Taipei, Taiwan, and Bossier City, LA. Later, she sold real estate in Dallas and was employed in the library at St. Mark's School of Texas. She loved art, film, theater, reading, bridge, and traveling the world with their close friends, the Blairs and Joneses. She was highly creative in many artistic pursuits, such as painting, flower arranging, home decorating, and sewing beautiful garments and home accessories for herself and daughter Lela, and costumes for her grandchildren. Elaine is survived by her son, Jeffry Stewart Shook, and wife Jeannine Shook, of Charlotte, NC; and her daughter Lela Shook Paksoy, and husband Dr. HB Paksoy, of Richardson, TX. Grandchildren: Valerie Shook Barclay, and husband Christopher Barclay, St. Louis, MO; Adam Lee Shook, and wife Holly Shook, Dallas, TX; and Catherine Elayne Morrow Vaughan and husband Jacob Vaughan, Plano, TX. Great-grandchildren: Maren Barclay and Graeme Barclay, St. Louis, MO; and Josiah Shook, Elisbeth Shook, and Jonathan Shook, Dallas, TX. In accordance with Judson and Elaine's expressed request, Jeff and Lela will transport their parents' cremains to Woodlawn Cemetery, DeRidder, LA, for burial. Also following Elaine's wishes, a private family memorial service celebrating her life will be held when all the children and grandchildren can gather next in Dallas, TX. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LT COL Colonel Judson Shook, Jr. (1925 - 2010) SHOOK, JR., Colonel Judson -- February 23, 1925 - April 24, 2010 LT COL (USAF Ret.) Colonel Judson Shook, Jr., of Richardson, Texas, went home to be with his Lord at 8:54 PM on April 24, 2010, due to complications from prostate cancer. Judson was a graduate of the Naval Academy (bachelors 1948), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (bachelors 1950), and Southern Methodist University (masters 1964). A three-time war veteran, he served in WWII, Korean War and Vietnam, and then retired from the Air Force in 1969. He received a Bronze Star in 1967 for meritorious service in Southeast Asia and Air Force Commendation medals in 1963 and 1965. His next career spanned +30 years in civil engineering. He was Director of Public Works for Dallas County, and Director of Transportation and Engineering for the City of Richardson. He was responsible for building many roads and bridges through Dallas County during its major growth in the 1960s through 1980s. Through his vision and determination, he was able to purchase the Texas School Book Depository for Dallas County, saving it from destruction, which now houses the Sixth Floor Museum, for which he received the John Neely Bryan Award for historical preservation in 1979. Most recently, he was the North Texas Turnpike Authority's project manager for the Bush Turnpike. It was well known that "if you want to build a road – call Shook!" Judson was a good-natured, likeable and intelligent man who lived out his responsibilities and duty in life and career with excellence. He was a great story teller, laughed liberally and enjoyed seeing the best in others. He was an avid fisherman who loved the outdoors. He loved music and travel. He was the epitome of an "officer and a gentleman." His insatiable curiosity and intelligence made him a life-long seeker of knowledge and truth. Judson was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and Sons of the Republic of Texas, and a 7th-generation Texan. He was an historian and genealogist preserving historical and family information for future generations. He lived true to his Christian values; his word was trustworthy. His Bible life verse was Romans 8:28. He lived as a man of the highest integrity and honor, loving his God, family and country. A Memorial Service with military honors will be held at 10:30 AM on Thursday, May 13, 2010, at Spring Valley United Methodist Church, 7700 Spring Valley Rd., Dallas, TX 75254, with a reception immediately following in the fellowship hall. Judson loved his wife, children, grand- and great-grandchildren with all his heart. He is survived by: his wife of 62 years, Elaine Claire Smith Shook, Richardson, Texas.; son, Jeffry Stewart Shook, and wife, Jeannine Shook, of Charlotte, North Carolina.; daughter, Lela Shook Paksoy, and husband, Dr. HB Paksoy, of Richardson, Texas. Grandchildren: Adam Lee Shook, Dallas, Texas; Valerie Shook Barclay, St. Louis, Missouri; and Catherine Elayne Morrow, Richardson, Texas. Great-Grandchildren: Josiah Judson Shook and Elisbeth Shook, of Dallas, Texas; and Maren Barclay and Graeme Stewart Barclay of St. Louis, Missouri. DALLAS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS -- Article on LT COL Colonel Judson Shook, Jr. http://www.dallascounty.org/department/pubworks/media/Newsletter_Website_Summer_2010.pdf The End of An Era... Part of Dallas County Public Works history was lost April 24 (2010) with the passing of former Public Works Director, Colonel Judson Shook. Shook, a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the US Air Force, served as Director of Dallas County Public Works from 1969 until 1981. After leaving Dallas County, he continued his engineering career as the Director of Transportation and Engineering for the City of Richardson and as Project Manager for the President George Bush Turnpike. Shook was well known in the industry as the man to get things done. Under his leadership as Director, the 1969 and 1977 Bond Programs were approved by voters, allowing improvements to many area thoroughfares and County buildings. Shook was instrumental in preserving the Texas School Book Depository in Downtown Dallas, the building from which Lee Harvey Oswald allegedly shot President John F. Kennedy in 1963. By the late 70s, the book depository had been closed for many years and was destined for sale and likely destruction. Many in the community saw the site as an embarrassment to the City of Dallas, but Shook recognized its value as an historical landmark and persuaded the County to buy it. Now the depository is home to Dallas County Public Works, the County Commissioners Court and other County departments, as well as the Sixth Floor Museum. The Sixth Floor Museum is Dallas' most popular tourist attraction, bringing in visitors from around the world. In recognition of his efforts to save the building from destruction, Shook was presented the John Neely Bryan Award for historical preservation in 1979. Other professional honors include the Outstanding Engineer Award by the Dallas chapter of the American Society of Engineers (1980) and Man of the Year by the North Texas branch of the Texas Public Works Association (1977). Several current members of the Public Works Department (Right of Way Agent Carol Landon-Beane, Senior Property Supervisor Pam Easterling, Accounts Manager Shirley Rapp, Senior Construction Inspector James Walsh, and Inspector Charley Cummings) were employed during Mr. Shook's term as Director. According to Accounts Manager Shirley Rapp, the employees who worked under Colonel Shook remember him as a man who always cared about his employees and did all he could to make their lives better: "He was a true leader who led by example and always thought of his employees. He always knew he had a purpose and led all of us to fulfill ours as well." "We were blessed to have worked with a great man of faith," Landon-Beane said. "He is gone from this earth to his heavenly home. However, his legacy lives on and he is not forgotten." Current Dallas County Public Works Director Donald Holzwarth said of Shook, "I really liked him. His legacy for us is one of integrity and goodness."