Reverend “Eloise” Mary Marx Shoults, 90, of Knox City, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, December 3, 2013, at the Country Aire Retirement Center in Lewistown, Missouri.
Eloise was born on November 11, 1923 in Sparta, Wisconsin, the daughter of Lawrence John Christian “Frenchie” and Effie Bean Marx.
She received her education in Sparta, Wisconsin before going to seminary school with the Salvation Army. While serving in the Salvation Army she met another officer, Charles Raymond Shoults, Jr. and they were married September 8, 1944. To this union twelve children were born. Her husband Charles served his country in the United States Navy during WWII, Kora, and Vietnam and they moved around the country as his service required, living in Hawaii and later Washington D.C. She was a “Blue Star” mother, with children serving in the United Sates Military for over forty continuous years.
Eloise returned to Northeast Missouri and received a Bachelor’s in Education from Northeast Missouri State University in Kirksville, Missouri and went on to St. Paul’s Seminary School in Kansas City, Missouri. She served churches all over the state of Missouri before settling in Knox County and serving several Methodist Churches in the area. She enjoyed her ministry and was a guest speaker, performed marriages, and filled in as a guest minister all over the state up to her 83rd birthday.
Eloise was a member of numerous Methodist Churches in the area and spread the Word of God with everyone she met.
She is survived by eight sons, Gregory L. Shoults of Utah, Steven E. and his wife Janet Shoults of Little Rock, Arkansas, Thomas J.A. Shoults of Napa Valley, California, Timothy L.V. and his wife Joyce Shoults of Fairbanks, Alaska, Christopher P. and his wife Colleen Shoults of Washington D.C., Samuel J.F. and his wife Susan Shoults of Knox City, Missouri, Grant M. and his wife Charlotte Shoults of Lawson, Missouri and Peter B.W. Shoults and Karen Brown of Knox City, Missouri; two daughters, Keri Hillyer of San Antonio, Texas, and Janne Elyn and her husband David Gorman; a brother, Donald Frederick Dahl and his wife Meg of Rockport, Texas; over a hundred combined grandchildren and great grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Eloise was preceded in death by her parents, Frenchie and Effie Marx; husband, Charles Raymond Shoults, Jr.; brother, LuVerne Marx and his wife Jerri; a daughter, Eloise Mary Cecilia Brochu; a son, Charles Raymond Shoults, III; a granddaughter, Gayle A. Cruz and two grandsons, Raymond Joseph Brochu and Alan Lee Lamb.
Funeral services will be Monday, December 9, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. at the Doss Funeral Home in Edina, Missouri.
Visitation will be after 2:00 p.m. Sunday, December 8, 2013, with the family greeting friends from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the funeral home in Edina.
Burial will be in the Knox City Cemetery in Knox City, Missouri.
Reverend Cheryl Wofford Hill will officiate and music will be provided by Pete Shoults. Pallbearers will be Charles Shoults III, Gregory Shoults, Steven Shoults, Thomas Shoults, Timothy Shoults, Christopher Shoults, Sam Shoults, Grant Shoults, Pete Shoults and Rick Goodson. Honorary pallbearers will be Jesse T. Shoults, John E. Shoults and Charles R. Shoults IV.
An expression of sympathy in memory of Eloise Shoults may be left to the Hospice of Northeast Missouri or the Paralyzed Veterans of America. A memorial may be left at or mailed to the Doss Funeral Home 208 N. 4th Street, Edina, Missouri 63537.
