Shirley May Rooks
Born January 16, 1938, in Alpha, NJ, she was the daughter of the late Charles H. Heater and Helen Gellock Heater. In 1955, she married the late Millard E. Rooks, Sr. with whom she enjoyed 48 happy years together. The young couple bought her family home soon after and lived in Alpha until his death in 2003.
Shirley attended Alpha Public School and Phillipsburg High School. She was employed briefly at Dixie Cup in Wilson Borough, PA, and she then spent the rest of her adult life as a homemaker. She was a New Jersey Foster Parent and a devoted member of Grace Lutheran Church in Phillipsburg.
Shirley is survived by her children: Millard “Buddy” Rooks, of Alpha, Kelly Morris and husband Duane, of Pohatcong, Christina Smith and husband Patrick, of Alpha, George De Hart of Easton, and Nickcole DeHart-Muller and husband Joe, of Palmer Township. Grandchildren are Ryan Paff, Alivia DeHart-Muller, Gavin Muller, and Colin Smith.
In addition to her husband and parents, she is predeceased by a grandson, Kyle Paff, a sister, Margaret Heater, and a brother, John Heater.
Calling hours will be held on Sunday, March 1, 2020, from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm, at the Finegan Funeral Home at 924 2nd Avenue in Alpha, NJ. A funeral service will be held on Monday at 11:00 am at the funeral home. The interment will be at the Raubsville Cemetery in Raubsville, PA.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation,
110 East 42nd Street, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10017