Shirley B. Yokum

Shirley Beatrice (Bland) Yokum, age 100, of Seneca Rocks, WV passed on Saturday, August 8, 2020 at Grant Rehabilitation and Care Center in Petersburg, WV.

Mrs. Yokum was born January 2, 1920 in Harman, WV and was a daughter of the late Byron Stanley Bland and Erma (Harper) Bland.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Carl Adam Yokum in 2008; one son, Charles Jackson Yokum; three brothers, Harper Bland, Thomas L. Bland and Byron S. Bland, Jr.

Shirley is survived by one son, Samuel D. (Laura Kim) Yokum of Seneca Rocks, WV; two daughters, Patsy (Craig) White of Fairmont, WV and Sharon (Joe) Maluo of Honolulu, Hawaii; fourteen grandchildren, Elizabeth (Dan) Huffman, Virgil “Bub” Yokum, Jody (Mickie) Yokum, Tammey (Don) Pyle, Konane (Celestine) Maluo, Aukai (Melissa) Maluo, Nohea Walker, Kehau (Gary)  Smith, Colin White, Davin (Shawna)White, Andy (Rachel) White, Casey (Alicia) Yokum, Nikki Yokum and Luke Yokum; twenty-four great grandchildren, Adam, Taryn, Jacklyn, Taylor, Danielle, Mikayla, Kylie, Kara, Kyle, Emma, Joshua, Kaylee, Kelson, Konner, Kanoelani, Madison, Carter, Amelia, Alaina,  Elias, Salvatore, Antonia, Lanaia, and Kobe; seven great-great grandchildren, Payten, Elizabeth, Everett, Olivia, Zoe, Zadie and Dallas; two sisters, Judith Sponaugle of Knoxville, TN and Billie Tubaugh of DesMoines, Iowa.

In 1938 Shirley graduated from Circleville High School.  Then she attended the Akron Business College in Akron, Ohio and later the Greenbrier Cooking School.  She loved to travel to all corners of the world and received a certificate from the North American School of Travel as a tour guide.

She was a member of Seneca Rocks Presbyterian Church, former co-owner of the Elkins Stockyards, loved designing buildings and was an EMT for the Grant County Ambulance.

Shirley was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from Pendleton County Chamber of Commerce.  She was considered to be one of the most formidable and accomplished business women not only in Pendleton County but in the eastern part of West Virginia.  Shirley was co-owner of Yokum’s Vacationland in Seneca Rocks, WV for over 82 years. She was a proud matriarch of a large and accomplished family. 

All services will be private and interment will be in North Fork Memorial Cemetery at Riverton, WV. 

A Celebration of Life Service will be held in the future. 

Memorials in memory of Shirley may be made to Seneca Rocks Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 99, Seneca Rocks, WV  26884 or Seneca Rocks Volunteer Fire Department, 2342 Allegheny Drive, Seneca Rocks, WV  26884.