Honoring Roy Shores: A Century of Life, Love, and Service

At 100 years old, Roy Shores is a testament to resilience, humor, and the beauty of a life well-lived. A World War II veteran, Roy’s journey has taken him across the country and the globe, but for the past 40 years, he’s called Cookeville home.

Roy’s military career began in the Great Lakes, where he completed basic training. It was there that he met his beloved wife, Miriam. From the Great Lakes, Roy attended hydrological school in San Diego, a stepping stone to his deployment to Miami, where he boarded a ship destined for the Caribbean. Upon returning, he and Miriam were married, embarking on a partnership that would span eight decades.

The couple’s life as a Navy family led them to Washington’s Navy Yard, Newport, Rhode Island, and eventually Providence. While Roy served aboard a cargo ship in the South Pacific for a year, Miriam made a home in Cary, Illinois, a village outside the suburbs of Chicago, showing the resilience and adaptability of a military spouse.

After his ship experienced mechanical issues, Roy was sent to Seattle and then back to the West Coast to pick up a replacement ship. His Navy career eventually brought him to Navy Pier in Chicago, where he decided it was time to settle down. The Shores built their first home in Cary, living there for a year before relocating closer to the town center.

In a twist of fate, the Shores’ journey to retirement in Florida brought them to Cookeville. En route to visit family in the Sunshine State, they stopped in Cookeville and fell in love with the community and its changing seasons. They sold their Chicago home and made Cookeville their permanent residence. Over the next four decades, they built a life filled with friends. Shores enjoys his morning gatherings at M & M Market, where he is a regular.

Earlier this year, Roy said goodbye to Miriam, his partner of 80 years. Her passing marked the end of a remarkable love story, but Roy continues to cherish the memories they made together.

Last week, Roy experienced a health scare that brought him to Cookeville Regional Medical Center. After breakfast with friends at M & M Market and a trip to Walmart, he found himself short of breath and fatigued. Despite wanting to drive himself, he was taken by ambulance to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with early-onset atrial fibrillation (AFib). Remarkably, Roy’s only prior health issue had been high blood pressure.

Dr. Mark Wathen, electrophysiologist, and the team at Cookeville Regional provided exceptional care, diagnosing and stabilizing Roy. True to his character, Roy maintained his sense of humor throughout the experience, even joking with the echocardiogram technician.

Reflecting on his decision to settle in Cookeville, Roy expresses gratitude for the town’s warm community and proximity to essential services like the hospital and fire department. “The nurses

have been great,” he shared, underscoring the high level of care he received during his recent hospital stay.

Roy looks forward to continuing his mornings at M&M Market with his friends. His life is an inspiring example of courage, dedication, and the enduring power of love and friendship.