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Obituary for Elaine Shawaker
Elaine Shawaker, 85, passed away peacefully in her home on December 13, 2016. She was born in Toledo, Ohio on June 18, 1931 to Emile and Helen (Faulkner) Hirschy.
Elaine graduated with the class of 1949 from Libbey High School in Toledo where she won the award of outstanding senior girl. The next fall she entered Bowling Green State University where she majored in biology and joined Beta Mu Chapter of Delta Gamma sorority.
On September 5, 1952 she married Ross Shawaker, a WW2 navy veteran. Together they traveled to New York City (Columbia University) and then to New Haven (Yale) where they pursued their educations.
Degrees in hand, they moved to Columbia, South Carolina where for many years Elaine taught high school math and Ross progressed from being a philosophy professor, to a golf club pro, to a real estate developer.
On retirement and after a 1990 vacation trip to the Pacific Northwest, Elaine and Ross fell in love with the area. They decided to buy a home with an ocean view in Brookings, Oregon.
Here Elaine became a Master Gardener and volunteered at the Brookings Entrance garden. She also volunteered at the Brookings Humane Society where she cared for and even adopted many pussy cats. The Shawakers were active in bringing a series of classical music concerts to Brookings at one time. They delighted in showing visitors places such as Harris beach near their home, Stout Grove with its giant redwoods, and the Oregon Coast Aquarium.
Elaine was preceded in death by her husband Ross and her parents. She is survived by her best friend Shephanie Reynolds of Brookings and her sisters Mary Hirschy Kuhlman of Pemberville, Ohio and Nancy Guckert of Cincinnati, Ohio. According to her wishes Elaine is to be cremated and her remains scattered here in the region she so loved.
Redwood Memorial Chapel is assisting the family. Condolences may be expressed online at www.redwoodmemorial.net.
