Gayle E. (Ketchum) Shooltz

Gayle E. Shooltz

Of Chesaning

 

Passed away early Friday morning, June 10, 2016, at McLaren Flint.  Her age was 78 years.  She has been cremated.  Gayle’s memorial mass will be celebrated at 10:00 am Saturday, June 18, 2016, at St. Peter Parish Catholic Church, 404 S. Wood Street, Chesaning.  Fr. Bill Gruden will officiate.  Her family will be present at the church to welcome friends from 9:00 am Saturday until time of the mass.

 

Gayle was born in Chesaning, Michigan on July 5, 1937, the daughter of Harlan and Dorothy (Maike) Ketchum.  Gayle lived all her life in Chesaning and was a real hometown girl.  She was the  Salutatorian of her graduating Class of 1955 from Our Lady of Perpetual Help High School.  Gayle married James D. “Jim” Shooltz at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Chesaning on May 11, 1957.  Together they owned and operated the former Jim’s IGA Store in Chesaning and she worked as their bookkeeper.  She was a former secretary at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Elementary School of Chesaning and active in her church.  Gayle had also worked as a secretary at Hehr Manufacturing.  She had served as the Treasurer of the Chesaning Museum.

 

Gayle was a loving wife and mother and a Host Mother for five exchange students.  She and Jim traveled to Denmark, Brazil, and throughout Europe to visit with the families of three of their exchange students.  They also traveled throughout the U.S., Hawaii, Alaska and Canada.  Gayle enjoyed making cards, crochet and knitting, ceramics, and painting.

 

Those left to cherish her memory include her husband of 59 years, Jim; their four children, David and wife Cindi Shooltz of Chesaning, Sally and husband Ted Lawson of Montrose, Colorado, Daniel and wife Michelle Shooltz of Chesaning, and Dennis and wife Judy Shooltz of Grand Junction, Colorado; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a sister, Bonnie Ruff of Chesaning; a brother, Gary and wife Paula Ketchum of Colorado; and nieces and nephews.  Those who have passed away before her include her parents and a brother-in-law, Howard Ruff.

 

In lieu of flowers, charitable donations given in remembrance of Gayle may be made to the Chesaning Historical Society or the River Rapids District Library of Chesaning.

 

Please share your online condolences with Gayle’s family at misiukfuneralhome.com.