Deola Mary (Dee) Shryock
Deola Mary (Dee) Shryock, 94, from Polson, died at Heritage Place in Kalispell on Dec. 2. The Shryock family has lost their matriarch. She will be tremendously missed as the focal point for all her children and extended family.
Her strength and vitality, in spite of her age and declining health, has been an inspiration.
Dee was born on Nov. 19, 1921 in Blackfoot, Idaho to John George Ellis and Blanche B. Jaggers. Her mother came from a pioneer gold mining family of Bannock, Mont. and her father from southeastern Idaho. As one of eight children from that union, Dee grew up in Blackfoot during the Great Depression but completed her last year of high school at Butte High School in 1939. She then entered the army cadet nurse program in Pocatello, Idaho, and graduated with an RN in 1943.
She was directly commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army as a nurse and was stationed at Fort Wayne Wright in Spokane. In 1944, she married Captain Harry (Lee) Shryock Jr., a World War II bomber pilot, in Spokane.
After the war, Dee lived the life of a career Air Force pilot’s wife. Dee and Lee had five children and Dee worked when she could as a nurse. They enjoyed living around the country and overseas. The family lived in Ohio, Florida, Georgia, Texas, Idaho, Guam, and Washington. When Lee retired they moved to where they had honeymooned… Polson. Dee went to work for the Council on Aging and was instrumental in bringing Home Health to Lake County in the 1970’s. They built a home on Flathead Lake where they enjoyed neighbors, friends, and family. Her life changed dramatically when Lee was killed in 1984 in a highly publicized shooting at the Polson airport after volunteering to exchange places with a kidnapped boy and pilot a plane.
She was a long-time member and deacon of the Presbyterian Church in Polson. Her interests included bridge, painting, travel, walking, and family get-togethers. She always liked dogs and leaves Enzo, an Italian greyhound.
She spent much of the last twenty years enjoying the company of Walter Woodcock, whom she lost a few years ago. Her family was everything to her, and she knew everyone and everything until the end. She believed in maintaining close family bonds, dignity, respect, honesty, hard work, helping those in need, and high expectations for all. She was a true lady.
She is survived by sons: Arnold (Sondra) Shryock of Nampa, Idaho, George (Jane) Shryock of Whitefish, John (Rosa) Shryock of Kalispell; and daughters: Mona Troy of Augusta, Mont., and Jayne Roberson recently of Polson; one sister, Virginia Reber of Kalispell; two brothers: Robert Ellis of Meridian, Idaho and Jake Ellis of Pocatello, Idaho; twelve grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 7, at the Presbyterian Church in Polson. Cremation has taken place. Burial will be at the Polson cemetery next to Lee with a brief graveside commemoration. Condolences can be sent to The Lake Funeral Home and Crematory website. Arrangements are under the direction of The Lake Funeral Home and Crematory.