Shirley Riggan St. Lawrence Hooker

Shirley M. Hooker of Mulberry Road, Martinsville, VA passed away on February 21st, 2015 at Hospice Home of Rockingham County, NC.

A funeral service will be held 2 pm Thursday at Forest Hills Presbyterian Church with burial to follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Martinsville. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service from 1 till 2 pm. Shirley was born in Hopewell, VA on August 30, 1926. She moved to Martinsville with her family when her father was transferred to the ?��Ǩ?�then?��Ǩ�� new DuPont plant.

Shirley graduated from Martinsville High School and received her RN degree from Lewis-Gale Nursing School in Roanoke, VA. Upon graduation, Shirley joined the US Navy, as a nurse, and achieved the rank of Lieutenant. After 4 years, Shirley married her first husband, Robert F. St. Lawrence, a Navy pilot, and left the service to start her family. Upon the death of her husband Shirley moved with her children back to Martinsville to be with her parents and brothers. She continued her nursing career at Martinsville Memorial Hospital, the Red Cross and as a private duty nurse. Shirley married her second husband Samuel A. Hooker, Jr., whom she always said, ?��Ǩ?�was brave enough to take on a widow with four teenage children.?��Ǩ�� Shirley joined Martinsville Travel and worked for many years with a group of people that she admired and adored. She had the opportunity to fulfill her lifelong dream of traveling the world and she did just that! She retired only to stay home to care for her husband, Sam, when he was no longer well.

After Sam?��Ǩ�Ѣs death, Shirley split her time between Martinsville, VA and Kitty Hawk, NC where she had her ?��Ǩ?�Beach House on the Moon?��Ǩ�� and several very dear friends.

Shirley was a member of Forest Hills Presbyterian Church and a charter member of Chatham Heights Baptist Church. She was president of the PTA for several years when her children were young. Shirley was a member of Chatmoss Country Club. She was an avid reader and history buff. Shirley also loved animals, especially dogs, and always had at least one in her home, many more when her children were growing up! She had other varied interests including bridge, needlework, and baking.

Shirley was an avid sports fan. She loved watching football, both professional and college. She was a diehard fan of the Washington Redskins for years. She loved watching basketball games and was a fan of professional golf. She always had ESPN on the televisions in her home!

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd and Gertrude Riggan, two brothers, Claude and Bill Riggan, and two husbands, Robert F. St. Lawrence and Samuel A. Hooker, Jr. She was also preceded in death by her beloved Chihuahua Jorge, who passed away in 2014.

Shirley is survived by her four children and grandchildren, daughter Patti and her husband Sid Kernodle of Newport News, VA and their daughter Lydia Kernodle of NYC; son Robert F. St. Lawrence II of Roanoke, VA, and his son, Robert "Fletcher" F. St. Lawrence III of Johnson City, TN; daughter Jenni and her husband John Yount of Eden, NC and their daughter Andrea Yount of Summerfield, NC; daughter Lisa St. Lawrence and partner Billy Foster, and her daughter Robyn Gross of Roanoke, VA. Shirley is also survived by her brother Wayne Riggan and his wife, Janette of Martinsville, VA; her sisters-in-law Barbara Riggan of Collinsville, VA; Margaret Williams of Danville, VA and Nancy Manning of Kinston, NC. Shirley had many beloved nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and other special family members and friends.

The family would like to thank Shirley?��Ǩ�Ѣs loving home caretakers: Deborah Heath, Carolyn Trainham, and Angela Fountain. Without them, Shirley would not have been able to spend the last months of her life at home, which she so wanted to do.

The family would also like to thank the staff of Morehead Memorial Hospital in Eden, NC, and Hospice of Rockingham County for their loving care and support.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Forest Hills Presbyterian Church, the Martinsville SPCA, Hospice of Rockingham County in North Carolina, or to a charity of choice.

Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.fairfuneralhome.com