It is with great sadness but profound eternal gratitude that I announce the mortal passing of my favorite girl, wife, and mom.
Julie Diane Boock was born on August 26, 1952, in East St. Louis, Illinois. She passed from this Earth at St. Mary’s Hospital SSM and was taken home to be with the Lord on July 13, 2024.
Julie had experienced serious health and surgical issues, and I think the Lord honored Julie’s belief, faith, and service despite her many ailments. The time had come to be free! “Your Earthly misery has ended,” the Lord proclaimed, and now Julie is pain-free and in glory!
I first met Julie while doing a play at SIUE in the early 70’s. I was an art major, and Julie was a theatre major. We were just friends. However, three years later and East of our typical stomping grounds, we almost literally bumped into each other on a Sunday night at a college hangout in Edwardsville, IL. Even many years later, we remarked on how that “chance” meeting was divine providence. The probability of that “chance meeting” was remote as Julie never ventured East. At the time, she was living by the airport and had been invited by a college pal to catch up. She was reluctant to go but went anyway. Destiny!
I had just begun my new career as a News Artist with the St. Louis Post Dispatch when I began to learn where Julie’s life had taken her. At the time, Julie was a flight attendant for Ozark Airlines and was “on reserve,” which meant a midnight curfew to avoid becoming an “Ozark Pumpkin,” as she liked to say (since her job required her to be home in case of emergency).
We agreed to meet the following week to have coffee in a quiet place to fill in the blanks of the past few years, but the following day, the phone rang, and it was Julie! Surprise! “Are you hungry?” she asked. “Am I hungry? I’m a bachelor living with two guys, and one of them eats all of my food! My cupboard is bare!” I replied. Then Julie said, “I’m in an Ozark prison and have filet mignons on the grill, a fully loaded twice-baked potato, braised asparagus, a freshly baked blueberry pie, and some Jack Daniel’s on the rocks.” Well, while we were still talking, she heard a knock at her door, and there I was, puffing and nearly breathless…did I get here fast enough?
From that serendipitous night, we tested our relationship. Julie’s humor, sweetness, and beauty took my breath away, not to mention her gourmet cooking!
We played Gin Rummy and watched Pride of the Yankees with Gary Cooper on a nine-inch black-and-white television. She cried, and I cheated in the game (I confessed about ten years later), but we both laughed! The television is still at the house. As it turns out, we were both very sentimental. Go figure!
Two years passed before our wedding vows, and looking back, Julie had “set the hook” that night at dinner. It was not a calculated scheme, of course, but she sure knew the way to this starving artist’s heart.
We were meant to be. Anyone who had ever met Julie can tell you of her kindness, friendship, sense of responsibility, professional ethics, and exceptional creative talent. She could design, decorate, and wrap a present like no one else! She was a master crocheter, a master quilter, and in recent years devoted her talents to a ministry that designed baby blankets for expectant mothers. She easily produced more than 400 blankets for Nurses for Newborns and Birthright. Julie also made beautiful shawls, afghans, gloves, and dozens of other gift items made with love. She was also somehow able to read seven novels a week!
I laughingly referred to my sweetheart as an overachiever. She finished college in three years with straight A’s and honors. A few years later, she got a degree in Hotel Restaurant Management. She was way smarter than I was and yet she married ME!
Julie could do anything. Some of her work experience included that of Account Executive for Este Lauder. In fact, right before we announced our marriage, she was made District Manager for Atlanta, GA. We had a going-away party and the moving truck was scheduled. Ultimately, even as a rising star, she ended up turning Lauder down, much to their displeasure.
Julie did event planning and organizing for The Sheldon Concert Hall and Patti Long Restaurant in Lafayette Square. She was a gift buyer for Concordia Publishing, a food stylist for professional photographers, and produced magazine and newspaper ads and commercials due to her culinary expertise. And no one could make and tie ribbon bows like my girl!
A few weeks before Julie’s passing I asked her why she married me. I knew the answer because we often spoke about the subject. “I married you because you made me laugh,” she would say. If only it were that simple.
Yes, we made each other laugh, sometimes unintentionally, but always for the right reasons. We never had an actual fight or had harsh words. I may have wanted to argue, but Julie wouldn’t let me…which was humbling. Julie was an amazing mom as my terrific sons will attest. We miss you, girl!
Aside from being the most thoughtful and talented woman I have ever known, my bride never complained or asked for special treatment of any kind. My ministry was to be her protector and caretaker. What a privilege and blessing.
I pray for the ability to understand, accept, and do what I must to spread the Light, to continue to minister to others, and to endure the pain of losing Julie.
Julie, we miss you terribly, but we will meet again! That’s my promise. Love you!
P.S. Did I mention Julie had LOTS (and I mean LOTS) of yarn? If we are able to use our talents in Heaven, I fully expect to see a crocheted cozy on the Pearly Gates!
Julie Shay is survived by her husband, Robert (RJ) Shay, of Webster Groves, MO, and their sons, Nathan (Sonja) Shay of San Jose, CA, Ian (Erin) Shay of St. Louis, MO, and Adam (Katy) Shay of Washington, MO. Grandchildren, Caiden, Addison and Isabella Shay of Lawson, MO. Brother to Jeffrey (JoAnne) Boock of Harvester, MO, sister to Cindy (Chuck) Burgess, Pacific, MO, and beloved relative to numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Julie was also blessed with countless close friends.
A truly moving tribute to a remarkable woman. You and your family and Julie remain in our hearts and prayers. Hold tight to all the happy memories she left you during this hard time.
You and Julie definitely were blessed with not only a special marriage but also “An Affair to Remember”! Our deepest sympathy for you and your family.
I’m overwhelmed by all of Julie’s accomplishments. She didn’t speak of all her successes.
I knew how she loved you and the boys. So proud of all of you.
One great thing about being a Christian is knowing we will see our loved ones again.
How wonderful, both of you had a solid and loving relationship.
May you be filled with God’s perfect peace. His peace not the worlds.
Blessings,
TRUE LOVE is always measured in Teardrops. Tears of JOY, along with Tears of SADNESS. One precious drop at a time. Tears are saltwater, just like the oceans, which are saltwater. 70% of the human body is saltwater, and 70% of the Earth, itself, is covered in saltwater; this indicates that we, and the planet we live on, are 70% composed of our precious Tears. I needed windshield wipers on my eyeballs while reading this summation of a lifetime of TRUE LOVE. Rest In Sweet Peace, Love and Joy, Julie, whose TRUE LOVE, obviously, transcends the space time flux capacitor, with our WONDERFUL ROBERT. “Only Love can break a Heart. Only Love can mend it again.” TRUE LOVE is always bittersweet. Just ask Romeo and Juliet. But it’s always worth it. After her beloved Husband died, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, the Author of “Frankenstein”, traveled everywhere with his HEART, and when she died, it was discovered in her writing desk. This is not to say that we should immediately check what’s hidden in RJ’s drafting table, but, after reading his profoundly moving final words about his beloved wife, we must keep this in historical context. When TRUE LOVE seemingly “dies” it is merely a change of Frequency, which timelessly awaits it’s SOULMATE’S vibrational resonance, which is the difficult part of being TRUE LOVE’S SURVIVOR. But also the GLORIOUS part, because TRUE LOVE is cosmically bestowed upon the few. Like right here. ❤️❤️❤️🍸🍸
Richard, I am speechless. Thank you for your amazing take. I grieve because I loved and it was worth it.
Destiny it was with the almost literal bump. Think how lucky you both were. A beautiful tribute to her and what you had together.