May 24, 2019 Issue, Page 2 of 14

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The Elk City News - Elk City, Oklahoma Frday, May 24, 2019 Shockey so I was very well-pre- pared for my college chem- Retiring toa baseball kid, or a band analogy to a band kid, for instance. The Greatest Generation, who came of age during World War II, preached the impor- istry from taking his class,” He also applied to Chey- “Sometimes they kind of tance of getting an education Price said during a break at enne and Hammon, and Elk roll their eyes because [analo- to their children, he said. work one day. Price also had Shockey for pre-AP chemistry City was the district that gave gies] are so far out, but if it “T don’t know that we have and had him her junior and senior years at ECHS, where him the chance. gets the point across, that’s that at this point,” he said. she graduated in 2005. “I really wish he could stick around “Of course, being from the my whole reason for coming Motivation is key May 25 for another 18 years so he could teach my kids, too,” Price surrounding area, Elk City up with something,” he said. said, laughing, noting her children are 2/2 and 4 months old. was kind of like home away Students make the job As society’s ideas have changed about education, it Ackley Park Opening Toye Crouch, a 1991 graduate of ECHS and a registered from home,” he said. “If you fulfilling nurse: “He's the best. My daughter [Kenlee Crouch] also wanted to go to the movie or His favorite aspect of trickles down to their chil- - Aquatic Center, Centen- had Mr. Shockey. My daughter’s a pre-pharmacy major at anything, it was come to Elk. teaching all these years was dren’s outlook on how much Southwestern [Oklahoma State University], and she sings That was the big town.” interacting with the students. importance they place on nial Carousel, Train and Mr. Shockey’s praises on a regular basis. Because of him, His interest in science be- “Tt hasn’t kept me young, education, he said. Miniature Golf. her chemistry classes at Southwestern have been easy. It’s gan early. He did not live on a but I feel like it’s kept me “So, sometimes it’s harder all because ofthe foundation Mr. Shockey gives our kids farm, but his dad farmed and young, kind of in the loop of to motivate them, harder to in chemistry. And it was the same way for me decades his grandfather ran a ranch. what’s going on,” he said. reach them, to get across to 4th Annual Seeing Home ago.” Crouch mentioned that Shockey has a talent for the “[ was on a farm or ranch “Bspecially after my kids got them that putting high ex- theater, including singing, and is active in his church, 2nd from early ages, so I enjoyed grown and graduated and pectations on your own self is Baseball and Softball Tour- & Adams Church of Christ. “The world needs more Roger the outdoor part and enjoyed now I’ve got grandkids, so I having to motivate yourselfto Shockeys,”she said. the science-y end of farming think the kids have kept me succeed or excel,” he said. nament, Elk City 5-Plex. Debbie Sisemore, who taught speech and drama for 34 and ranching.” he said. involved in how things are He believes in the adage years at ECHS, leaving in 2007: “He helped me direct ‘Li'l He didn’t enter college going.” Shockey hears back of “the harder I work, the ‘Abner,’ and his son, Ryan, was one ofthe leads in the play.” thinking he wanted to be a from students, and when he luckier I am.” May 26 Shockey was very involved in school activities during his teacher, though. does from students, “it does Shockey said he has never time as a teacher, including driving a bus to school func- “ first considered phar- make you feel like that you had any discipline problems 4th Annual Seeing Home tions, “He was an amazing person,” she said. She recalls macy school,” he said. have had hopefully a positive with students and said he was Baseball and Softball Tour- Shockey was tough but had “the most gentle heart” of But after finding out impact on them.” Some of his fortunate and blessed in that anyone she has ever known. “He was a fabulous teacher; pharmacy school would take former students, incidentally, regard. nament, Elk City 5-Plex. the kids absolutely loved him,” she said. “If you had a class another two years and a hav- hold prominent positions with Mr. Shockey, you didn’t have to worry when you went ing desire to finish school, in the Elk City school dis- “I think that when I got the to college because you knew it all because that’s how great he thought about science trict: Rick Garrison, super- call for Elk City, God opened May 28 he was.” education, as he already had intendent; Jeff Lewallen, adoor for me that I didn’t re- Rachel Miller, 2018 ECHS grad who now attends Okla- of number of science credits ECHS principal; and Jamie ally realize I was even looking Elk City Arts Council homa State University and majors in agribusiness/pre-law: under his belt in preparation McClure, ECHS assistant for,” he said. Shockey was an “amazing” teacher who helped prepare her for pharmacy school. After principal. He and his wife talked Annual Summer Youth for college. “Because of him, if Ihad not taken his class be- earning his education degree “T look around, like at the about where they'd live, and Activities, Elk City Middle fore I got there, I would have drowned because they do [the in natural sciences, he started ‘Teacher of the Year banquet they decided to stay where material] so fast. I already knew everything, so that class looking around for schools. or our first of the year meet- they grew up and had roots. School. was just review for me.” “Plus, I wanted to be ings where all of the teachers “All three ofour kids have Lizbeth Garcia, 2018 ECHS grad who now attends involved in the farming and are here, and I see somany moved back here and set up SWOSU and majors in computer science: “I thought he ranching business that my faces of previous students shop, too,” he said, May 29 taught us more than science. He definitely to took the family was in,” he said. “So, that are now in education,” His younger son, Kevin, time to tell us stories and get to know us and [for] us get to that seemed like a pretty good Shockey said. “And even if teaches science at the high Western Plains District know him.” She and Miller said people entered high school fit. [really didn’t think about they're not in education, there school and is a coach. His already knowing about the reputation of his classes being that education was going to are so many students I have older son, Ryan, is a regional Cub Scout Day Camp tough but worth taking. be my trade, if you want to taught that I’m teaching their business analyst for Select May 29-Junel, 1:00-5:30 Jessica Casebeer, a 2017 ECHS graduate who attends call it that. But the first few children [now]. And I tell the Energy Services. Brooke Oklahoma City University who majors in film production: years were very interesting in kids at the beginning of every Arapaho. Grades 1st-Sth “His essence was respect,” she said. “He gave off respect, the fact that I felt like I knew year the last few years, if I Buller, his daughter, is a what I wanted to teach then, taught your grandparents, registered nurse who became can attend, contact:Kendra which made all of his students give back respect. I had him two years. I had him for biology and I also had him but I didn’t have a clue on please don’t tell me because I astay-at-home mom when Walker 580-799-1558 for chemistry. My senior year, I had to decide whether how to explain it to somebody don’t want to believe I'm that her first child, Roman, 12, Iwanted to take AP chemistry, and I ended up not, but that didn’t already under- old. I’m to the point where was born. [Buller is maried man, that’s probably one of the things that I would put on stand it. that’s a possibility now.” to James]. Ryan and wife my regret list.” Casebeer’s mother, Jeanna Casebeer, also “So, you find out how little So many of Shockey’s for- Lindsey have three children: had Shockey and attended the retirement party. Jessica’s you do know when you start mer students have gone on to Lanee, 8, Halle, 6, and Drake, May 31 brother, Kobi, a junior, also has had Shockey. Jessica gave trying to teach it to somebody variety of occupations and are 3. Shockey’s wife, Penny, Shockey a T-shirt from a Journey concert the day before the else,” he said. “So that was “generally just good people,” who also grew up Hammon Block Party Elk City- first day of school her senior year. “That was my apology alearning curve. I should he said. and graduated in the same Downtown. gift for not taking AP chem,” she said, laughing. probably apologize to the first He has seen changes class as Shockey, works in several classes that came in what has happened to the accounts payable depart- through.” students over the last four ment at the Elk City school Still learning decades. district administration, and Even after all these years, “Obviously, technology she has a few years left before it's still an ongoing process of is more involved in their she retires, Shockey said. He trying to teach concepts. lives now,” he said. “I’m not expects to do some traveling “Stuff clicks to me that an anti-technology person, when she retires. hasn’t clicked before,” he but sometimes I think that Shockey has a ranch and Johnny Frank Davis said. “Another way or ap- maybe we try to use technol- he plans to spend a lot of time proach to explain it... I'm ogy as acrutch for actually with the cows and grandkids big on analogies. And since understanding and learning Johnny Frank Davis died at 10 a.m. at the Sweetwater under the direction of Rose Icome from a rural back- how something works or in his retirement. May 19 at the age of 64 years. First Baptist Church. Burial Chapel Funeral Service. ground, Iuse a lot of analo- why something works. We After all these years of Services were held May 22 was in the Buffalo Cemetery gies on things that are going think that Google has all the teaching, is there any advice on around here and try to answers.” he would give to a first-year Betty Lou Sanders incorporate [that].” Education has always been teacher? “Be flexible, look for ‘The approach can some- like a pendulum that swings the fun things, don’t dwell on Betty Lou Sanders died Chapel Funeral Home, Sayre Services are under the di- times depends on the student, from one extreme to another, the negative,” he said. “And May 2iat the age of70 years. with Ray Levertt officiating. rection of Rose Chapel, Sayre. he said. He will try to incor- he said, and he worries about enjoy it because it goes pretty Funeral Services will be Visitation was held May 23 at porate a baseball analogy where the pendulum is now. fast.” held 11 a.m., May 24 at Rose Rose Chapel, Sayre. hEAR ) FREE HEARING SCREENING (reap HEARING AID CENTERS 2900 W 3rd St. « Elk City, OK 73644 AND CONSULTATION (580) 302-6130 Your time is now, call today! www.heargearok.com CLINTON'S ROUTE 66 FESTIVAL Schedule of Events Car, Truck, & Cycle Show Downtown Activities Pepper Eating Contest 7 AM - Welcome and Registration Mini Golf Tournament 9-11 AM - Poker Run Registration May 25" Food & Vendors 10 AM - Car Show Kicks Off 10am-10pm Kids Car Race 10 AM - Car Show Kicks Off Free Concert 11 AM - Oklahoma Kids Take the Poker Run Stage 11 AM - Kids Car Race 11 AM - 5 PM - Poker Run Noon - Hot Pepper Eating Contest 3 PM - Awards Presentation McLain Rogers Park 4 PM Kids and 5 PM Adults Mini Golf Tournament aK Downtown Untor hamber of Commerce 7 PM - Oklahoma Kids Take the Clinton, Oklahoma WWW.OOFESTIVALCOM 580-323-2222 Main Stage in the Amphitheater