Frederick "Fred" H. Shockey

Frederick “Fred” H. Shockey, Jr., 81, of Seneca, Kansas passed away peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, October 13, 2022, at Life Care Center of Seneca with his wife, Betty, by his side.  Fred was diagnosed with leukemia six months ago and lived his last months on his terms. 

Fred was born April 5, 1941, to Fred and Lorena (Rawlings) Shockey, Sr. at their home in Valley Falls, Kansas.  He graduated from Seneca High School.  In 1951 when Fred was ten years old, he and his mother were stricken with polio.  Fred spent time at a Topeka hospital with several other Seneca area residents.  In the summer of 1967, he met Betty James in Mountain View, California.  They were married on May 18, 1968, at her mother’s home in San Jose, California and were blessed with 54 years of marriage.  They made their home in Mountain View, California and then moved to Milpitas, California.  They were blessed with three children.

Over his lifetime, Fred held various jobs.  He worked for Crevier Welding in Seneca as a blacksmith and worked on pipelines as a welder in Arizona and New Mexico.  He was a welder of trailer house frames in Harriet, California and worked at a used tire shop in Riverside, California.  He worked as a mechanic at a Signal service station in Sunnyvale, California.  He also worked as a mechanic at a Union 76 service station and at an Exxon/Enco service station in Milpitas, California.  In October of 1979, the family moved to Seneca where Fred owned and operated Shockey Automotive.  He worked until his health forced him into retirement after being diagnosed with Post-polio syndrome.  He was disabled in 1991.

Fred loved fishing, playing cards, going to the casino, wood working, and spending time with his family.

Fred was preceded in death by parents, Fred Shockey, Sr. (1979) and Lorena (1984); his three sisters, Louise Kaster (2010), Darlene McAuliffe (2013), and Maxine Clemmer (2014); his son-in-law, Clarence Tryon (2017); and a daughter-in-law, Felicia Shockey (2018).

Fred is survived by his wife, Betty, of Seneca; his children, Irene (Jerry) Koelzer of Corning, Kansas, Sandra Tryon of Baileyville, Kansas, and Fred (Janel) Shockey III of Shawnee. Kansas; his sister, Freda Galor of Holton, Kansas; his brothers, Lyle Shockey of Seneca, Bill Shockey of Soldier, Kansas, Garry Shockey of Kansas City, and Terry Shockey of Holton, Kansas; his 14 grandchildren; his 25 great-grandchildren; and his 19 great-great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at a later date.  As per Fred’s wishes, he was cremated.  Popkess Memorial Chapel in Seneca is in charge of the arrangements.