Annie “Margaret” Shockley of Great Falls Brookdale Senior Living, 101 well lived years, passed away on Friday, June 26, 2020.
Annie Margaret (Wester) Shockley was born on December 14, 1918, near Hogeland, Montana to Harry and Sarah Jane (Hobbs) Wester. Sarah Jane was a bold young lady who emigrated from England to homestead Montana's "Big Flat" country. Her beau, Harry Wester, traveled from Norway as a young man to homestead the tract neighboring that of Sarah Jane, and a new family of three daughters and a son emerged.
Margaret spent her high school years in Turner, where she worked at Maude's Boarding House, and explained of often working during the noon hour and having to pick up a chocolate candy bar (always her favorite) for lunch on her way back to school. She graduated in 1937 as Valedictorian of Turner's senior class. During those years she met Hughes Shockley Jr., son of the owner of the Turner General Store, and soon they were a couple starting a new Montana family.
Margaret and Hughes worked at the Portland Shipyards during WWII, where she was a welder and an authentic “Rosie the Riveter,” as well as a mom. They moved back to Montana and settled in Great Falls with the boys. Margaret was an avid gardener, member of Eastern Star, and for decades remained a "matriarch" of First English Lutheran Church. She attended to her boys busily, and was a fondly remembered Cub Scout Den Mother. At her 100th birthday celebration, five of her Cub Scout den "boys" were there to express their love.
For the complete obituary and to share condolences, visit the Schnider Funeral Home website.
