Bertha Imogean Wallace

Bertha Imogean Shockley, 89, was born Aug. 9, 1919, in Nodaway County, to Earl Franklin and Martha Addaline Whitlock Shockley. Imogean passed away May 20, 2009, at the Country Oak Village in Grain Valley.

Imogean was the youngest of the three Shockley sisters. While still an infant, her parents brought her to Cedar County where they lived in her great-grandfather’s log home on the Shockley homestead in the Amity Community. She attended grade school there and graduated from El Dorado Springs High School in 1939.

Imogean was married to Clyde Wallace on May 10, 1939. In 1941 they moved to the Wallace farm where she lived for the remainder of her life. It was there her two sons; Clyde Carol and Terry Land were born. Imogean’s greatest concern as she grew older was that failing health would cause her to have to leave the home and neighborhood she loved so dearly. This did not happen – God blessed her with almost 70 years on the farm she came to as a young woman.

Her life in return was a blessing to many others; especially to her husband, Clyde, with whom she worked side by side for 46 years. Theirs was a special partnership – they did everything together – farm work, household chores and gardening. They were master gardeners. Imogean said she always asked the Lord to give them a good garden so they could share – and they did – giving bushels of vegetables to friends and neighbors.

A blessing to her sons, Carol and Terry, Imogean’s happy “farm girl” disposition made her an ideal mother for her boys. Her arms held but did not bind and they grew to become devoted sons, husbands, fathers and grandfathers.

Imogean’s community was blessed by her life and they will miss her. She was a caring friend and neighbor. She loved the little church where she had attended for over 70 years – drawing great strength from her faith and the fellowship of her church family.

There are many ways of expressing love and Imogean seemed to say it best in the kitchen. The Amish school children who called her the “Candy Lady” and those of us who have enjoyed her wonderful divinity candy and chicken and dumplings know they were truly expressions of love.

Imogean was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Wilbia; husband, Clyde; and grandson, Larry Lane.
She is survived by her sons and their wives, Carol and Angela Wallace and Terry and Kathy Wallace; four grandchildren – Brian, Cynthia, Renee and Sunny; 5 and 1/2 great-grandchildren; her sister, Jessie Sell; and her loving nieces and nephews.
When Imogean’s children were coming home they would call to ask, “Mommie, will you be there.” Her answer was always –“Yes, if I’m not upstairs.” Today – she’s upstairs.

Services began at 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 27, in Bland-Hackleman Chapel with Bob Martens and Larry Boucher officiating. Faith Trussell provided the music. Interment followed in Hall Cemetery under the direction of Bland-Hackleman Funeral.

Pallbearers were – Dale Fast, Pete Fast, Delmar Fast, Aaron Reeder, Kent Henry and Quinten Walsh.