Wesley “Ferrell” Shuck

Wesley “Ferrell” Shuck

Jan. 24, 1932 - Dec 17, 2018

LEES SUMMIT, Mo. — Wesley “Ferrell” Shuck, 86, of Lee’s Summit, passed away on Dec. 17, 2018 at home from complications of Parkinson’s Disease with his loving wife, Janice (Ruda) Shuck, by his side. For the last 61 years, Ferrell often referred to Janice as his bride.

He leaves three daughters and a son; Beverly Shuck of Lee’s Summit; Greg Shuck of Raytown, Mo.; Cindy (Kurt) Heier of Fenton, Mich., and Julie (Eric) Doane of Lee’s Summit. He also leaves his grandchildren; Truman Shuck, Aaron Cawlfield, Jefferson Shuck, Audrey Shaffer, Erica (Thomas) Grossman, Abigail Doane and Blake Heier, along with many extended family members and friends.

Ferrell was born in Guide Rock, Neb., the youngest of a large blended family. He is preceded in death by his mother, Ella Shuck, and father, Loren Shuck; four sisters, Earleen DeLay, Marilyn Beanblossom, Roberta Brecht, and Ruth Clark; and three brothers, Ardean DeLay, Lindell Shuck and Lowell “Bud” Shuck.

Ferrell began his career as a newspaper boy, delivering the Omaha World Herald in McCook, Neb., during 1946 and 1947. He graduated from McCook High School and McCook Junior College, while working for the McCook Daily Gazette. He met and married the love of his life, Janice Ruda, in 1957. In 1958, he became the national advertising manager for the Miles City Daily Star in Miles City, Mont. He returned to the Midwest in 1959 to work in the advertising department of the Omaha World Herald. Ferrell moved his family to Missouri in 1965 to become the publisher of the Lee’s Summit Journal, which he held until 2000.

Ferrell received the Merrill Chilcote Award for his exemplary service to journalism in Northwest Missouri and was inducted into the Missouri Press Hall of Fame, in addition to receiving numerous other newspaper awards. Ferrell was instrumental in starting Lee’s Summit’s Cole Younger Days and served as the first Marshall, that was held in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the Lee’s Summit Journal in 1981. Ferrell has been recognized in downtown Lee’s Summit with a bench outside the Whistle Stop Coffee and Mercantile in honor of his decades of community service and storytelling. Ferrell was also known to voice his opinions while playing pool and has been recognized with a soapbox inside the Do Drop Inn.

Ferrell had a strong faith and was a member of Our Lady of the Presentation Catholic Church where he served as an usher for many years. Ferrell also believed in being involved in his community and throughout the years was active in the Chamber of Commerce (including Board Member), Rotary Club, Jaycees, Knights of Columbus, Elks Lodge, Lions Club, Honorary Membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Midland Bank Board, Jackson County Election Board, Northwest Missouri Press Association, Central Missouri Press Association, and Missouri Press Association Board of Directors.

A visitation, which will begin with the rosary, will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 26 at the Langsford Funeral Home, 115 SW 3rd Street, Lee’s Summit. A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 27 at Our Lady of the Presentation Catholic Church, 130 NW Murray Rd, Lee’s Summit. Burial will follow at the Historic Lee’s Summit Cemetery. The family encourages all attending to wear red to honor Ferrell’s love for the Nebraska Huskers and suggests donations to the Lee’s Summit Social Services, Lee’s Summit Historical Society or the Parkinson’s Foundation in lieu of flowers.

Ferrell was a great husband, father, friend and member of the community who will be missed by many but none more than by his family.