This morning at 3:30am my family and I lost our beloved Shirley Rae Shuck. She had been battling with congestive heart failure and decided against surgery to preserve her remaining quality of life. Grandma was a great person whom I love dearly and has impacted my life unlike anyone else. When I was a young man I lived with her and my grandpa and I was not what you would call a "good kid", but grandma's love was unconditional. Some of my fondest memories include riding in the old Buick with her and grandpa and listening to old country music on the 8 track player, that car rode like a dream and grandpa would occasionally take me out in it to "blow the cobs out of it" man was that fun! And how can I forget the old dodge ram pickup rides, sitting between her and grandpa, they both had miller lite beer in hand and we were normally looking for old cars or to follow up on a lead that grandpa had on some good parts. Slowly we would wind through the countryside enjoying the evening, just talking about the day. Boy were those the days, not a care in the world it seemed. Some days I would go with grandpa to the farm and work, well one day grandpa hit a cow while we were chasing them and told me not to tell grandma, as everyone knows she is a huge animal lover...well I agreed to keep it between the guys...ha ha, that lasted till we hit the driveway, I jumped out of the truck and ran inside as fast as I could and told grandma....I am pretty sure grandpa got a chewing that night. Coming home after work was always a treat because grandma was such a great cook, whether it be her signature fudge brownies, mulligan stew, or just a BLT sandwich it was always soooo much better than anywhere else! I would usually say after a good meal, "thank you grandma I'm full" she would reply "that's what we wanted" Or often I would take to much and she would tell me my eyes were bigger than my stomach.
Her love for pets was great, she used to have a whole barn full of cats and would feed them all and take care of them. She had lots of pets over the years like Heidi, Sadie, Katty, blue, and Dinky and Lucy who are still alive. Many of us might agree that sometimes she even loved them more than us! Her pets were her children and she treated them great, only the best for them always... She also enjoyed her Keno, and the time spent with her sisters "the golden girls" as I like to call them. She would always go up to Hastings to the keno lounge and meet her friends, or go with Bill, she told me about her winnings and was happy doing it...I never asked how much she spent!
Some of life's lessons are learned the hard way, believe me I know...Grandma was there for me to shed light and help me out. I had a hard time when I was younger balancing my check book and paying bills, we would sit at the kitchen table for hours until all my money was wrote out in checks, she would say "their now, doesn't that feel good" ha ha, it didn't at the time but now I know what she meant..being responsible and taking care of business...she was good at that. Thanks Grandma.
I was joking with my mother, saying I bet that grandpa and her met up in heaven and grandpa said, "Dang it Shirley, I saw you go out and buy that $1000 dollar stove after I was gone...I had a good used one out in the shop you could of used" Anyone who knew my grandfather would know what I am talking about, and Emma who is grandmas good friend would chuckle about that as well.
Grandma, you live on through my daughter and all of our family, I know you are in a better place now! I love you dearly, miss you, and will always cherish the memories we have together! Until we meet again....your grandson, Andy Huffaker...RIP
