Obituary of Neoma Loretta Shouse

Neoma Loretta Shouse, age thirty-nine at least that is all she admitted passed away Saturday, January 14, 2012. Neoma was born April 14, 1922, in Craigmont Idaho to PR and Marie Larrick. She married Thomas E. Shouse in Nov 1941. Following the war they began their farming life in several locations around southern Idaho. During this time two sons were born, Robert and Gary. Seeking a more stable life, in 1965 Tom and Neoma applied for and got the Secretary-Manager position at the Twin Falls County Fair. They quickly took on the whole new life of running the "Filer Fair" as it was known in those days. Neoma took on the fair office management and for most of the year she was the fair office, 24 hours a day. She remembered where people's rodeo reserved seats were, what they entered in various fair departments, and probably most important their names. In addition to the inside office tasks, she planted flowers just about everywhere there wasn't lawn and trees. She put planters in the front of every building so people using the grounds would see pretty flowers. One of her large and long lasting projects involved planting 100 red roses along the fence south of the office for anyone driving down Fair Avenue to enjoy. These added touches to the grounds gathered comments from not only the local people who came to use the grounds every summer but from those around the entire country who came for the numerous national stock shows, professional rodeo and the Miss Rodeo Idaho contest during the fair. The grounds were used for some event whether that was family picnics, 4H, FFA, horse, lamb, pig, and dog shows almost every summer weekend. Neoma and Tom strived to put the fairgrounds on the map for people around the country for twenty two years. Neoma was on the Miss Rodeo America Board of Directors and was honored in the Western Stockman Hall of Fame. In 2001, the fair grandstands were named the Shouse Arena. Neoma was recently awarded a 50 year pin from the Twin Falls Chapter 29 of the Order of the Eastern Star and another from the Pocatello Chapter of the Social Order of the Beauceant. Neoma is survived by son, Gary and Lauren a daughter that she never had. Grandsons, Todd, Steven, Chad, and Cory. Eleven great grandchildren and four, soon to be five, great great grandchildren. Neoma was happiest when she had her family and friends around her. In lieu of flowers, she would appreciate donations to the Filer American Legion and Auxiliary, Boys and Girls State program for Filer, Buhl, and Castleford. Donations may be sent to Filer Post 47, PO Box 661 Filer, ID 83328. Thank you. Services will be held January 23, Monday 11a.m. at Rosenau Funeral Home, 2826 Addison Ave. E Twin Falls. Brief graveside following at Sunset Memorial Park. A viewing will be held Sunday from 4-7p at Rosenau Funeral Home. Friends may share their memories at www.rosenaufuneralhome.com