Florence "Tootie" Stocks

Florence L. “Tootie” Stocks, 87, of Charles Town, passed away on Thursday, April 5, 2007, at her home, where she was born on Jan. 18, 1920. She was the daughter of the late H. Vernon and Katie Belle Noland Sheetz.

She was the owner and operator of Sheetz Florist, the family business started by her parents in 1923, where she began working as a young girl and continued until August 2006. Her younger son, George “Buddy” Stocks, was co-operator of the business.

A 1937 graduate of Charles Town High School, she was well known in the area for her charitable contributions of flowers for local events as well as her high standards of quality in the floral business. She served as treasurer of the Animal Welfare Society for many years and was a member of the Jefferson County Historical Society.

In addition to Buddy Stocks, she was survived by her elder son, Thomas Ward Stocks; daughters-in-law, Susan and Mary Stocks; grandchildren, Robert, Samuel and Thomas Stocks and Katie Roles; and great-grandchildren, Isaac, Andrew and Cailin Roles and Mason, Berkley and Kate Stocks; nephew James Sheetz and his son, Patrick; and a cousin, Mrs. Nan “Sis” McDonnell of HighPoint, N.C.

Preceding her in death were her husband, George, who died in 1990, and her brother, George Sheetz, who died in 1978.

The family received friends at the Eackles-Spencer & Norton Funeral Home, U.S. 340 & Halltown Road, on Monday, April 9, 2007, from 1 to 5 p.m. Graveside services were held on Tuesday, April 10, 2007, at 11 am. at the Edge Hill Cemetery at Charles Town with the Rev. James Boyce officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family requested that memorial contributions be made to either Hospice of the Panhandle, 122 Waverly Court, Martinsburg, WV 25401, the Animal Welfare Society, P.O. Box 147, Charles Town, WV 25414, Independent Fire Co., P.O. Box 925, Charles Town, WV 25414 or Citizens Fire Co., 200 Citizens Way, Charles Town, WV 25414.

On January 28, 2007 Asbury United Methodist Church, Charles Town, honored “Tootie” Sheetz Stocks, for her longtime provision of floral arrangements for the altar. “Tootie’s” father, Vernon Sheetz, started the business with a garden, greenhouse and retail business in 1924. After nearly a century of operation by Vernon Sheetz, Tootie George, Tom and Buddy Stocks, the family decided in 2006 to close the business. During this period of time Sheetz Florist has donated the altar flowers each Sunday in December in memory of “Tootie’s” parents. In addition to this, the flowers that were donated by church members to honor or memorialize friends or loved ones have been provided by Sheetz Florist at a nominal cost. An oblong brass vase, inscribed with “Tootie’s” name, will honor her each Sunday when it is used to hold the altar flowers.