Mary Lou Shook

MaryLou Shook MaryLou (Coleman) Shook died November 18, 2015 at her home in Kissimmee, Fl, where she had been a resident for the past 23 years. She went to sleep Wednesday evening, and woke in the Arms of her Savior. She was preceded in death by her husband, John R. Shook, Sr., her son John Shook, Jr (Sarah), her daughter Karen (Philip) Baird, her parents, Arthur & Esther Coleman, her sister, Donna Mae (Coleman) Ceren and her brother, Robert Coleman. MaryLou is survived by 15 of 17 children, Dale (Mary) Ceren, Kathy (Jerome) Matt, Linda (Richard) Sutherland, Kristine (Michael) Suydam, Sandra Avenarius, Cynthia Melton, Robin (Ruthie) Ceren, Robert (Deborah) Shook, Laurie Evers, Kolleen (Jay) Stone, Kathryn (Edward) Greer, David (Diane) Shook, Stephen Shook, Daniel (Donna) Shook, and Paul (Kimberly) Shook. She is also survived by 52 grandchildren, 90 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild (with more on the way!) MaryLou was a true servant of God who faithfully served the Lord. She was a true student of God’s Word and gathered her strength from it. She was a woman of strong faith, believing in the power and strength of Jesus’ Love and the beauty and peace that would await her after her passing. MaryLou was born July 20, 1927, in North Canton, Ohio and was the eldest of three children born to Arthur & Esther Coleman. She met John Shook (1928 - 2011) at a high school dance and married him in 1947. MaryLou and John were married for almost 64 years and raised 17 children. Possessing a true servant’s heart, MaryLou tirelessly served not only her family, but also served the Lord in her church, had a real heart to support missions and strongly believed in the power of prayer, praying for each and every one of her children and grandchildren daily. You could almost always find MaryLou in her kitchen caring for family and friends through her cooking, baking and her infamous ice tea. She was an avid cake decorator and was an expert seamstress, designing her own bridal gown and sewing many of her daughters’ prom and wedding dresses as well. She was “Mom” to many others and touched hundreds of lives through her knowledge of the Bible and being an amazing prayer warrior. Viewing will be held from 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. on Friday, November 20, 2015 and will be held at Osceola Memory Gardens, 1717 Old Boggy Creek Road, Kissimmee, Fl. 34744 . The funeral service will take place Saturday, November 21, 2015 at 10:00 AM at MaryLou’s church, Gateway Baptist Church, 2601 Partin Settlement Road, Kissimmee, Fl 34744. The service will be officiated by two of her beloved son in laws, Rev. Jerome Matt of Huntington, WV and Rev. Richard Sutherland, Sr., of Jacksonville, North Carolina. Burial will follow at Osceola Memory Gardens, 1717 Old Boggy Creek Road, Kissimmee, FL 34744. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be given to Mark Smith’s Bible Tracts at or checks can be mailed to: Bible Tracts, Inc. P. O. Box 188, Bloomington, IL 61702. "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their words do follow them" ( Revelation 14:13)

Mary Lou Shook

July 20, 1927 - November 18, 2015