Constance Meyer Shokes

Constance Meyer Shokes ("Connie") passed away on July 11, 2014, at age 74, after a lifetime of rich experiences. Born Constance Fernandina Meyer on September 5, 1939, on Sullivan’s Island in Charleston, South Carolina, she lived vibrantly and embraced new adventures for a full twenty-five years after her first cancer diagnosis in 1989.

Connie grew up with three siblings: brothers Frederick William Meyer III ("Bud"), Alvin Robert Meyer, and her sister Catherine Elaine Meyer Youngberg ("Kitty"). She left her strict childhood home in 1958 to elope with Ivan Harvey Shokes ("Harvey"), who would be her husband of fifty-six years until her passing. Together, they raised three children.

A meticulous artist and craftswoman, Connie produced hand-painted ceramics, photography, and custom sewn goods ranging from blankets and clothes to stuffed animals. Once asked why her ceramics were "so good," she responded that she never wanted to do anything that she'd later regret. But Connie wasn't just a maker; she was also a mover. In addition to many years of swing and square dancing with Harvey, she also embraced dance aerobics, swimming, biking, and scootering around the neighborhood with (and without) her grandchildren.

During her forties and fifties in Virginia, Connie worked as the Assistant Manager of the faith-based non-profit thrift shop, The Closet. She valued decency and moral character, while deeply accepting people's differences and encouraging them to pursue their unique passions. For her own children, this meant supporting everything from marching band and piano to thrash metal with equal enthusiasm.

Whether it was calling her son over to identify the snakes she'd find in the yard, swimming with dolphins, or gazing from her balcony at the effortless glide of her ultimate favorite, the pelicans of Cocoa Beach, Connie displayed a lifelong deep affection for animals. Her framed pelican photo hung in Connie and Harvey's home until his passing in 2026.

As of July 2026, Connie is survived by her children: Constance Lynette Shokes Wagner, Tamara Elaine Shokes, and Ronald Harvey Shokes; her grandchildren: Andrew, Lora, and Harrison Wagner; her great-grandchildren: Henley and Teagan Wagner; and brother Fredrick Meyer III. She leaves them a legacy of relentless optimism and an appreciation for the little things.

We ask that in lieu of flowers, you make online gifts in memory of Connie, to Blood Cancer United. Thank you so much.