Donna Lee Shook, mother of MHCH Co-founder Jill Shook, was born in Fullerton, California June 7, 1930, and she died on Dec 13th 2024. Her parents Otis and May Johnson moved from Arkansas to California in the early 1920s.
Her simple piano and trumpet lessons were no match for her heart that beat to jazz rhythms throughout her life. She graduated from Fullerton Union High School in 1948 and on June 30, 1950, she married her high school sweetheart Dick Shook. They built their own house in Yorba Linda. Her Fullerton Junior College professors wondered why they skipped class, but when they saw their home, they received an A for their courses. Sadly, their wonderful home, complete with peach orchards and goats, was taken by eminent domain to build a freeway.
Donna and Dick had three children: Jana (June 28, 1952); Jill (November 1, 1953) and Doug (December 7, 1954). Together they all ran their family businesses, laundromats in Yorba Linda, Placentia, and Fullerton, earning enough to buy their children their first cars and pay for college. They had a wonderful family life taking their kids in their station wagon and later their truck and camper to the Colorado River, Mexico and throughout the US.
Donna started art lessons while her children were in high school and was encouraged by her husband to pursue her love for art. Shell collecting in Mexico was the artistic stimulus motivating Donna to create her sea and shell paintings.
In 1986 Donna and Dick moved to a beautiful 12-acre farm they purchased in Arroyo Grande where they enjoyed growing vegetables and flowers to sell at farmers’ market. Donna loved to make flower arrangements displayed with antiques, making their way into her beautiful paintings.
In 1996 they went on world travels with extended time in Australia where their son Doug lives with his family.
When Dick died on October 28, 1998, Donna moved to Shell Beach and pursued her art career with passion. She wrote: “The joy of painting! God’s creation of beauty lives within my heart and soul. There is beauty everywhere to behold!” Donna turned her Shell Cottage into a work of art inspired by her artist friends and the nearby ocean. She exhibited her work in Central Coast at galleries, state fairs, and at Avila Beach where she won numerous awards. She hosted open studio tours in her home for 14 years. She cherished beauty and art, but her true vocation was people. She made friends wherever she went, often greeting treasured neighbors while tending her garden wearing her bathing suit!
Her daughter Jana wrote: “When God made her, he threw the mold away. Thankfully, we have the same DNA!”
Donna is Survived by: 3 children: Jana Lee and her husband Dwight Heirendt, Jill Suzanne Shook and her husband Anthony Manousos, and Douglas Brian Shook and his wife Vicki Forth. 10 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren: Grandson David Mark Heirendt and his wife Denise, with their children, Katherine and Reese Johnson, Aviva Leilani Heirendt, and Amber Fall with her husband Mathew and their children Raylan William and Lillia Grace. Grandson Jonathan Andrew Heirendt with his wife Jasmine, with their children Jesse Austin, Finch, Noah Christian, and Cody Jay Cross with her husband Daygan and their children Declan and Tatum. Granddaughter Ann Catherine Isenberg with her husband Trevis and their children Kellen Charles and Everett Warren. Grandson Luke Daniel Heirendt and his wife Janelle with their children Adalaide Jane, Annemarie Noelle, Ailish Wren and Jude Avery. Grandson Peter Aaron Heirendt and his wife Kendra and their two children Raffaella Hilde and Inez Hart. Granddaughter Sarah May and her husband Andrew Singer. Grandson Michael Dwight Heirendt with his wife Emma and great grandson Riley Jeremiah. Grandson Joseph Paul Heirendt with his wife Kayla. Son Douglas Brian Shook with his wife Vicki Forth and grandchildren Keira Ashlee Shook, and Jessie Corrine Shook.
The Graveside Service will be at 2:00 PM Sat. Jan. 4th at Loma Vista Cemetery, 701 E Bastanchury Rd, Fullerton, CA 92835. A Celebration of Life will also take place in Shell Beach on Jan. 11, at 11:30pm. Please contact Jill@makinghousinghappen.com for more information.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to Making Housing and Community Happen, a nonprofit that Donna’s daughter Jill and her husband Anthony co-founded: www.makinghousinghappen.org/donate