Virginia Shores
February 28, 1926 - June 09, 2015
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Virginia Shores
February 28, 1926 - June 09, 2015
Obituary
I was born on a cold February 28, 1926 to Acie Green and Sarah Carter Green. I was the third child born to this family. My sister Bernice had died in infancy, leaving big brother Junior to welcome me to the family. It was Junior that was largely responsible for me being called Sis” by the family; Virginia was just too hard for him to say. Soon to join me were brothers Chester and Harold. I grew up in the close – knit family community of Carter, an area named after my maternal Grandfather. My brothers and cousins were my playmates. Whether playing games and sports with the boys or meeting cousins Girlie Mae and Carrie down in the holler to cut our dolls hair, I enjoyed it all. My brothers were some of my closest friends. Even as teenagers and young adults, fishing, movies, dancing, playing cards, just being together, were good times. I attended Carter school thru the eighth grade then went to Tahlequah City High School where I graduated in 1944. While in high school I would do my turn to fill in as bus driver when needed. I knew just where to hit the rock in the road and shift gears so the bus could make it up Park Hill Mountain. I also knew how to make sure the bus was late arriving at school if a fellow student needed to miss a test. While attending high school I also refereed girl’s basketball games and assisted supervising wood shop class. I had been left in charge the day my brother Chester decided to use a joiner without following proper guidelines and badly cut his hand. I furthered my formal education at Northeastern State University where I was granted an Emergency Wartime Teaching Certificate. I taught at Pigeon, a small community school much like the one I had attended growing up. Some fifty years later I met a former student who recognized me right away. This former student remembered how I loved to play ball with the students during recess. I had wanted to attend medical school to become a doctor but by this time my brothers were serving in the military and I felt it was more important to remain at home to help my parents on the farm. I never lost that desire to understand the human body and to treat illness. One of my favorite tasks as a young child was to take cold water out to my father while he was plowing. He would set me on the tongue of the cultivator and I would stay with him until time to go to the house. When dinner time came my father would set me on top of the mule for the ride home where my mother would have a hot meal waiting for us. I learned the skills necessary to keep a home from my mother, but truly enjoyed the work that kept me close to my father. I could drive a tractor, work the field and do any manual work that any man could do. I picked up many skills from watching someone else do it. I would try my hand at anything. My mother always complained of one of the bedrooms being too dark. We had no electricity at that time and that room had only one small window. Mother wanted more windows in that room, I knew dad never would get around to getting it done, so I decided I could do it. I figured what materials I would need, and Dad sent me to the lumber yard. No power tools then just a good handsaw and hammer. My mother got her windows and I got the satisfaction of making my mom happy and of completing one more project. The projects I did for mom and dad were many and I enjoyed doing what I could for them to make their lives better. Many times when something needed to be done my father would just say, “Sis can do it”. So from giving haircuts to vaccinating cattle to remodeling a house I would try my hand at it. I married Floyd Shores in Bentonville, Arkansas in September 1954. Together we raised two children, Sara Lynn and Wayne. I did my best to raise my family well and to provide a good home for them. I tried to pass along the knowledge and lessons that I had learned in life to my children and grandchildren. I spent many years working with The Salvation Army Citadel Seniors planning weekly meetings and special trips around the state and a yearly trip to Camp Heart O ‘Hills. For 13 years I headed up the Stocking Shoppe for The Salvation Army during the Christmas season. I organized the volunteers for each shift and delivered the gifts for distribution. I was fortunate to be able to do some travelling, including many short weekend trips around Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri. Then there were trips to Colorado, New Mexico, and all across the South. My most memorable trip was to Cumberland Gap, Tennessee. That was the place I had heard my Pappy Carter talk about, the place that he was from. I was a real-estate agent, a newspaper carrier, a farmer, a landlord, a wife, mother and grandmother. I waited tables, helped run a hotel, did office work for an insurance agent. I taught school and coached Little League Baseball. I was a member of the Eastern Star. I enjoyed sewing, cooking, fishing, hunting, music, and arts and crafts. I always believed that you have to be a friend to have a friend, and my life was filled with many cherished friends. I believed that we should share with those in need, whether that be giving someone a place to stay or food to eat, helping someone to find a job or doing the laundry of a little league baseball player or a college student that couldn’t make it home. I believed that God always provides for us. When during my later years when I was unable to stay at my home alone, a dear friend opened her home to care for me. She and her family accepted me as their family and I accepted them as part of my family. I enjoyed life and tried to make the most of everything that came my way. I did so many things and had so many stories to tell and experiences to share. Some stories you heard more than once. But I had more to tell if you would have listened. I tried to advice, to encourage hard work and responsibility. I always tried to be helpful, saying what I believed people needed to hear, but not always what they wanted to hear. I leave this world with no regrets as to how I lived my life. I am satisfied with what I am leaving behind. I did a lot in my lifetime of 89 years. I worked hard so I would have time to play. I saved so I would not have to borrow. I cried so I would appreciate the good times more. I experienced loss so I would love more. I was given more years on earth than I ever thought I would have, and now I move on to something even better.
Funeral Service
- Date & Time: No Date & Time
- Venue: Butler-Stumpff & Dyer Funeral Home & Crematory
- Location: 2103 E 3rd St Tulsa, OK 74104 - (Get Directions)
Graveside Service
- Date & Time: No Date & Time
- Venue: Tahlequah City Cemetery
Visitation
- Date & Time: No Date & Time
- Venue: Butler-Stumpff & Dyer Funeral Home & Crematory
- Location: 2103 E 3rd St Tulsa, OK 74104 - (Get Directions)
3 responses to Virginia Shores
Tammie says:
June 9, 2015
I never met Miss Virginia, but if she was good enough to mean so much to Shelia, she HAD to be a good person. Shelia, so aorry for your loss…but so thankful she was there for you and with you!
Tara Ricketson says:
June 9, 2015
So sorry for your loss. She will be missed.
Toni Ward says:
June 11, 2015
My prayers are with all the family. I loved Virginia as she is such a sweet lady. She was always kind to me and put a smile on my face just being around her. I am sad to hear the news that she has passed as im out of state . I hate it that I missed her viewing & funeral. She will forever be a great memory to Me as she and I shared the most precious love one could that of our baby Ryan Ward. I know she is up in heaven haven a reunion right now and has a huge smile on her face cause she is there with her love one and playing with Ryay. God Bless. We will miss you Virginia, we love you.