Lois Marie (Shehorn) Starkey was born September 27, 1926, in Detroit, Michigan to Pearl Stephen Shehorn and Maurine Dawn (Wilson) Shehorn. She passed away on June 12, 2023, at Mount Vernon Countryside Manor in Mount Vernon, Illinois.
During the depression, her family, like many during that time, moved depending on where jobs were. Her one constant during this time was spending summers with her grandparents, Reverend Stephen Washington Shehorn and Julia Estella (Hopkins) Shehorn on their Jefferson County farm. Her grandparents were instrumental in the development of her Christian Faith.
She graduated from Chesterton High School in Chesterton, Indiana in May of 1944. For a period of time following her graduation from high school, she worked in Washington D.C. for the Navy Department during WWII.
On December 9, 1945, Lois married Mirwood (Woody) Allen Starkey following his return from Europe. They were married by Lois’ grandfather, Reverend Stephen Shehorn at the Shehorn farm in Jefferson County, Illinois. They celebrated their 71st anniversary before Woody passed away on April 2, 2017. Lois and Woody spent their married life in Indiana.
Following retirement, they spent winters in Florida and then Texas.
Two daughters were born, Linda on April 29, 1947, and Kathy on December 26, 1951.
Lois was preceded in death by her parents, husband, infant brother, Clyde Edward Shehorn, and her son-in-law, Willis Ray.
She is survived by her daughters, Linda (Rodney) Dailey of Mount Vernon, Illinois, and Kathy Ray of Milton, Indiana; grandchildren, Andrew (Melanie), Aaron (D’Anna), Joseph, (Mandy), William (JoAnn), and Benjamin (Katie) Dailey, Hannah (Dailey) (Sam) Story, Mac (Sarah) and Charlie (Crystal) Gerkin; twenty great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
A Visitation will be held Saturday, June 17, 2023, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am at Newell Funeral Home in Mount Vernon, Illinois. A Funeral Service will begin at 11:00 am with Reverend Bud Storey officiating. Interment will follow at Bailey Cemetery in Wayne County, Illinois. Memorials may be made in Lois’ honor to Bailey Cemetery.
Call Newell Funeral Home at 618-246-0100 or visit newellfuneralhome.com for further information.
