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Vanessa Shrum
Vanessa Joan Shrum, 74 of Glenns Ferry, passed away on Sunday, January 24, 2010. A memorial service will be held at 10:30AM, Saturday, January 30, 2010, at the Glenns Ferry Methodist Church and inurnment will follow at the Glenn Rest Cemetery in Glenns Ferry. Cremation was under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel in Mountain Home.
Vanessa was born August 17, 1935, in San Pedro, California to Opal and B.C. Wheatley. Vanessa's father was an officer in the US Navy and the family moved regularly. She attended many schools across the country and even graduated from high school twice, first while living in Guam and a year later in Coronado, California. She attended the University of Idaho and was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. Vanessa met John Shrum at the University of Idaho and they were married in Glenns Ferry on August 10, 1954. The couple was blessed with four children.
Vanessa resumed her education at Boise State University earning both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Elementary Education. Mrs. Shrum was a sixth grade teacher for 34 years at West Elementary in Mountain Home. She was passionate about enriching the lives of her students. She earned the respect and admiration of her colleagues, her students, and their families.
Vanessa was a lifelong member of Beta Sigma Phi, P.E.O., and the Red Hat Society. She cherished these special sisters and friends.
Vanessa was always ready for an adventure. Her bags were always packed and she was the first one in the line at the mention of a trip. She especially enjoyed traveling to Disneyland with her grandchildren. She also had a love for dancing and enjoyed tapping and line dancing with her friends. She discovered her talent for acting and became a regular drama queen at the Glenns Ferry Opera House summer melodrama productions. Vanessa had a passion for life and, believe it or not, she was quite the skilled fisherman and enjoyed floating around in the boat with her husband John and their dog, Bear.
Vanessa is survived by her 4 children, a daughter Susan and her husband Randy Reid of Jerome, sons, John and his wife Geniel of Glendale, Arizona, David and his wife Patty of Boise, Dan and his wife Joan of Salt Lake city, Utah; precious grandchildren, Megan, Laura, Molly, Nathan, Amanda, Nicholas, James, Johnny, Patty, Bill and Matt; a brother, Tom Wheatley and his wife Isabel, along with many other special brothers and sister in-laws and nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the American Breast Cancer Association, 113 Redbud Lane, Martinez, GA 30907, in Vanessa's name.