Quentin Stocum

I’m sad to report that, having had a perfect record in meeting my New Year’s resolutions every year, I failed this time around. When my husband asked what my resolutions were every January, I would always reply: “To make it to the next year.” Well, on February 5, 2025, that perfect record came to an abrupt end. Yup, this old body had had enough – and just quit working.

It all started on February 12, 1944 – well, actually nine months earlier, when Leon Leroy Stocum (d) and Sigrid Anna Wayrynen Stocum (d) decided that my half-brother David Leon Stocum, d (Laura) needed a playmate. After that, they weren’t satisfied with just two kids and decided to add Susan Ann Stocum Dick, d (Frank, d) and, later, Faye Louise Stocum.

At age 6, I started my education; twelve years later, in 1962, I graduated from Jersey Shore High School, and then four years later from Lycoming College. I started out teaching but eventually ended up at the Lycoming County Assistance Office, from which I retired in 2004.

During that time, after school and before retirement, I married and had two sons, Todd Leon (Melissa Quick) Stocum, and Marc Ivan (Tonya Zimmerman) Stocum, and then divorced. Not long after the divorce, I happily became a single parent.

Cub Scouts (Cub Scout Master of the Year), football (President of Jersey Shore Pop Warner Football) and baseball, with a short stint as vice president of Jersey Shore Little League – this was all the result of being a parent. They were great years.

In November of 1985, my household went from three to four people with the addition of my now husband, Larry Ferree.

In October of 1999, Larry and I bought an 1825 farm house, renovations completed by Stocum’s Construction, and we moved into the house in February, 2004. Through the years we cleared the land and planted many flower gardens. The gardens were chosen twice by the Dogwood Garden Club as Garden of the Month. The house and gardens were also part of two garden tours. I became a Master Gardener and then the Clinton County Master Gardener Coordinator. I wrote two garden columns, one for the Lock Haven Express called “It’s Easy to be Green,” and one for The Record called “What’s Up.”

The best things that happened to me, in addition to my husband and two sons, are my grandchildren, Mackenzie Stocum and Spencer (Bethany) Stocum, my great-grandson Elias, step-great-grandsons Carter and Emmitt, step-granddaughter Tabitha Mann (Ryan) Bojda, and step-great-granddaughter Clara; step-great-grandson Brady joined the family in December, 2024.

One does not realize the number of people who touch our lives throughout the years, and what impact we have on theirs. Pennsylvania State Parks became a wonderful part of our lives with our friends Jenny and Karen. Friend Joan shared her home-made jams and home-grown fruits and vegetables. Charley was a natural fit in the list of friends, along with crazy woman Betsy, who would keep me in line with her outrageous greeting cards. And of course there are many other friends and acquaintances who meant a lot and made life special.

Per my request, there will be no viewing. Instead, I’ve provided a photo with this obit as a reminder that, with just the right pose, anyone can look good.

To sum it all up, take time and look up the lyrics to the song “My Way.”

Sunday afternoon on June 29th is a tentative date for a Celebration of Life for Quentin, a garden party in Salona.

Arrangements were completed by Frederick B. Welker Funeral Home of Jersey Shore, Pa. www.WelkerFuneralHome.com.