Gerald Allen Shook

Gerald " Jerry " Allen Shook, 87, of Coalton, Ohio, passed away peacefully at home on May 24, 2026. He waas born Tuesday, July 19, 1938, in Coalton, Ohio to the late Otis and Dessa Waulk Shook. Jerry lived his entire life in Coalton and attended school in Coalton, graduating from Coalton High School in 1956. Jerry was employed a short time at the pants factory in Jackson. In the early 1960's, Jerry was employed at Chung King Foods in Jackson, where he met Margaret Ann Collins of Jackson. They were married on November 18, 1961, at the home of Reverend Alfred Tripp in Vinton County. Born to this union were Nancy Shook Agee in 1962 and Greg Shook in 1964. Jerry continued his employment with Chung King Foods through it's aquisition by R. J. Reynold Tobacco Company working his way up through maintenance, refrigeration, electrician, and repair of programmable controllers. In the early 1980's, Jerry became Adult Electrical Instructor at Manpower Training in Jackson plus attended T & I classes at Ohio State University to acquire his State Teaching certification. After Manpower closed, he taught high school electrical class at Pike County, JVS for a short period before transferring to Buckeye Hills Career Center, where he instructed both high school students and adults in electricity, hydraulics / pneumatics, HVAC, computer repair, electronics, and CISCO Networking into his retirement years. He also taught electrical maintenance classes for Gavin and Kyger Creek power generating plants, General Mills, Plibrico, and a few others. Jerry and his son Greg operated a lawncare / handyman service for many years in Gallia, Jackson, Ross, and Vinton Counties. He was often compared to a " NASA Rocket Scientist " with his knowledge, skill, and abilities. Jerry, a direct descendant of the Shook Family founders of Coalton, was community oriented. He served on Village Council and was Mayor of Coalton for 20 plus years. He was instrumental in obtaining grants to improve the Village. He was a firefighter with the Coalton Volunteer Fire Department and served for 40 years, retiring in 2011. As a member of Coalton Volunteer Firefighters, Inc., he also volunteered, along with other fire department members, to construct the current fire station and the James A. Rhodes Community Center in Coalton, plus he helped with the fund raiser banquets and bingo, often being the caller. Jerry served as a board member of the Coalton Historical Society. He was a member of Fellowship United Methodist Church in Coalton where he was the adult Sunday School teacher / superintendent until it closed. He became a member of Lucasville Emmanuel Church in Lucasville, Ohio. He was an amateur radio operator with license identification KC8DFP. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 64 years, Margaret Shook, and his brother, Ronald Dean Shook. He is survived by his daughter, Nancy Shook ( Timothy ) Agee of Jefferson City, Tennessee; his son, Greg ( Annie Sheets ) Shook of Coalton; sister-in-law, Becky Shook; dogs : Bruiser, Lizzy, and Lola; cats: Baby Kitty and Phizz; and numerous nieces and nephews. Friends may gather at the Jenkins Funeral Chapel in Wellston on Friday, May 29 from 4 until 8 P.M., where a Firefighters" Service will be held at 7:30 P.M. Funeral services will be Saturday at 1 P.M. at the Jenkins Funeral Chapel with Pastor Tim Shephard officiating, Burial will follow in the Shook Family Cemetery next to the Coalton Cemetery.The Shook family would like to thank the staff of Heartland Hospice and neighbor Jody Milsap for helping with Jerry's care in his final months. In lieu of flowers, donations to honor Gerald can be made to the Coalton Historical Society, P.O. Box 233, Coalton, Ohio 45621, to assist with the restoration of Governor James Rhodes' birthplace. Arrangements for Gerald " Jerry " Allen Shook are by the Jenkins Funeral Chapel of Wellston. Online condolences may be made at www.samjenkinsfuneralchapel.com