Gladys "Corky" Shumway, age 90 of Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin passed away peacefully surrounded by her family Sunday, January 12, 2025 at St. Clare Meadows, Baraboo, Wisconsin.
A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at United Presbyterian Church in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin on Saturday, January 25, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service at 11:00 a.m. A luncheon will immediately follow at the church.

Corky was born November 2, 1934 in Charleston, West Virginia, the 10th child of Harvey and Ina (Means) Hudson. After graduating high school, Corky attended McMillan Nursing School in Charleston, West Virginia to earn her RN Degree. She then went on to serve in the U.S. Navy at the Naval Hospital in San Diego, California. On New Years Eve 1956 she met her future husband, John Shumway, who was then serving in the Marines at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, and on May 17, 1957, Corky was united in marriage to John. At the end of her Naval Career, Corky was honorably discharged and moved with John back to his hometown of Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.
Corky became a part of the Wisconsin Dells community where she raised her family there. She dedicated her nursing skills to the Dells Clinic for over 45 years until she retired at the age of 75. But retirement didn't slow her down as she volunteered for the St. Vincent de Paul's Free Clinic in Portage. Corky came from a musical family; with her 8 sisters they made the perfect triple trio, with voices blending as they sang whenever they had a chance to get together. Corky also lent her voice to the Choir at the United Presbyterian Church and as a trio with fellow church members Shirley Wiess and Betty Wheeler. They called themselves the "CorShirBetts". She also sang at home as she worked around the house. One of her favorite times to sing was when the Shumway family got together for a musicale, with her mother-in-law Peg Shumway on the piano and organ and the rest of the Shumway family singing by her side. And of course, being from West Virginia she loved to sing "Take Me Home Country Roads"
In addition to singing, Corky loved to play bridge. She played with the Dells Bridge group for 50 years even after she moved to Baraboo in 2003 and joined in at the Baraboo Senior Center for a second game on Tuesday. Scrabble was another one of her favorite games to play she would play online or with family or with anyone willing to lose. She wasn't so competitive that she wasn't willing to help you out by letting you know if there was a better word to play or a better place to put your tiles to gain points, yet somehow she would almost always win. Corky was a sports fan who loved to go to every football game, basketball game or track meet her kids participated in including middle school, high school and college. She was a fan of the Green Bay Packers Football and UW Badgers Football and Basketball. Also, anyone who knew Corky knew better than to disturb her during Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune.
The family would like to thank the staff at St Clare Meadows and SSM Hospice Care for taking care of Corky during her last months. Also, a giant thanks to many friends involved in her life and care including fellow Dells Clinic Nurse Carol Anchor, niece Barb Marz, Dr. Conley, Allie Tolleth, Dr. Faylona and Marta Faylona and her friends and colleagues from the Portage Free Clinic.
Corky is survived by her children, Andrew Shumway, Los Angeles, CA: Julie (Dave) Hill, Mauston, WI: James (Cynthia) Shumway, Fitchburg, WI: and David (Shelley) Shumway; Austin TX, and by 7 grandchildren, Rachel Genthe, Paul Hill, Lydia Hill, Jordan Hill, Rylee Shumway, Hannah Shumway and Joseph Shumway, by 3 great-grandchildren, and by her sisters Mary, Patty and Margy. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John; her son Paul; by her sisters Macel, Verlie, Edna, Beuna, Wanda, and Claudia and by her brothers Claude, Earl, Clarence, Kenneth, Wesley and Dale.
In lieu of flowers, donations on Corky's behalf may be made to the St Vincent de Paul Free Clinic of Portage.