Fern Shuck
Age - 90
November 23, 2023
Fern Shuck was born on August 20, 1933 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Opal Fern O'Reilly Puckett; she died on November 13, 2023 in Annandale, Virginia after a brief illness following a fall.
Fern graduated from Central High School in Oklahoma City and went to work a few months later at Tinker Air Force Base. It was there she met the love of her life and husband of 72 years, Robert E. Shuck, as he returned from service in the Korean War.
Bob and Fern lived the life of an Air Force family, which took them from Oklahoma City to Tulsa, Arlington, Texas, and Taylorsville and Indianapolis, Indiana. Bob continued to be promoted and reached the rank of Colonel. With three children and a cat, the family moved to northern Virginia in 1969 when the Pentagon became the next duty station.
Fern was always an attentive mother, with all the responsibility which accompanied her children's various activities and interests. Cooking wasn't always a source of pleasure since there were many years she prepared three meals each day; baking was another matter entirely! And could she bake. There was also a long list of specialties she made better than anyone, and those became her beloved contributions to family gatherings.
Once the children were out on their own, Fern blossomed as a grandmother. She loved having each grandchild around even more than she enjoyed handing them back to their mother! As young parents and grandparents, trips to the beach and sightseeing were often on the agenda. Dozens of photographs show the love and time Fern devoted to her family. Time with the family in Ocean City, Newport Beach, Las Vegas, New York City, Florida, and reunions in Indiana were among the memories made during retirement. Pictures from those shared activities were lovingly crafted into scrapbooks which were cherished works of art. Family was gifted a scrapbook of their life made with long hours of carefully cultivated supplies, skillfully assembled into personalized histories from birth through adulthood.
Like her mother before her, Fern also crocheted and she did so beautifully. Friends and neighbors received handmade baby gifts, and family received scarves, doll clothes, and Christmas tree skirts which represented her skill and her love.
Never a shrinking violet, Fern wasn't shy about letting the family know what she enjoyed or how time should be allocated, especially during the holidays. Birthdays were special and she always made sure each person knew they were loved and honored their day with a favorite meal, requested dessert and coveted gifts. Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter. . . each was celebrated thoroughly with richly cultivated activities, foods and music.
Music and the Church were central to so much of Fern's life. She had a beautiful voice and was regularly recruited for church choirs and asked to sing solos. Her family loved hearing her sing and whistle - especially since her daughters couldn't carry a tune!
However, she took joy in the fact that her grandchildren received her musical genes. . . and regardless of talent, she laughed each year as the whole family sang her happy birthday. Fern loved animals and passed her passion on to the family. There was a long line of family pets she showered with hours of care.
Savanna was her beloved Yorkie and her soul mate; Luna, her current little Shih Tzu, was never far from her side and was with her when she passed. Birds, especially the Pileated Woodpeckers, squirrels, raccoons, deer, and homeless cats all benefited from her ensuring that they had supplemental food and shelter.
Fern is survived by her husband, Bob, her daughters, Carolyn and JudyAnn, as well as her grandchildren, Brianna, Alyssa and Colby. She is predeceased by her son, Robert D. , her sisters Judy and Shirley, and her five brothers, Paul, Bill, Ed, Leroy and Bobby Puckett.
She will be very missed but honored forever by the memories and traditions she created within each of us.
In lieu of flowers, donations made to:
Pets Ltd. Rescue Organization
Petsltd. org
Annandale Christian Community Action
Food Pantry
https://accacares. org/Show more
.png){kind=small}
.png){kind=small}
