Obituary of Carl "Sonny" Shrum

Carlton ‘Sonny’ Woodrow Shrum, 78, was born at home, June 5, 1944, in Senath, Missouri.  He passed away on May 10, 2023, at his home in Doniphan, Missouri.

He was preceded in death by his parents: Charles Hustan Shrum and Genie (Burgess) Shrum of Doniphan. Sonny graduated in 1962 from Senath High School. He married Carolyn Sue Sessums, March 5, 1963, in Senath. She preceded him in death on September 6, 2015. Together they raised two sons:   Jeffrey Carlton (and Kris Shrum) of Marion, Illinois; Brian Keith Shrum of Nixa, Missouri. He loved his family very much and time spent with them.

Sonny moved to Colorado following graduation and worked ‘land leveling’ before returning home to marry Carolyn. Soon after they moved to Colorado to resume his land leveling work. Shortly later, they moved to St. Louis and Sonny began work as a sheet metal worker at McDonnell Douglas Aircraft. After a few years he began transporting drywall for others. Eventually Sonny started his own business hanging drywall himself while in St. Louis. The family moved to Doniphan in 1976 as his drywall career continued to grow. As a man 6' tall and 160 lb., he was able to easily lift 2 - 12' sheets of drywall and move them from room to room. He hung drywall 'by hand' for years before adding 'mechanical' equipment to assist with lifting. When Sonny started a drywall project, he would mentally make a note of where he would later use each ‘scrap’ pieces of drywall, in a closet or small area, to save money for his customers. He was a perfectionist and would ‘create’ what he wanted or needed for a given situation/job. Sonny worked until his retirement in 2006 and enjoyed more time in his workshop, leather working, wood working, playing his guitar, playing pool and riding his motorcycle with friends. He could repair nearly anything and had the gift of storytelling. It was typical to see Sonny in the middle of the family gatherings, telling stories for hours and hours. He had a gift and always had a story.

Sonny was the youngest of 6 children.  His surviving siblings include: Dorothy (Shrum) and Acy Green of Dexter, Missouri; Virginia ‘Sissy’ (Shrum) and the late Junior Ozbun of Doniphan.  He was preceded in death by his siblings:  Charles ‘Junior’ Shrum of Doniphan; Mary Sue (Shrum) and the late Elvis 'Babe' Hearn of Phoenix, Arizona; Donald Gene Shrum and Rosemary (surviving) of Holtville, California

Sonny’s surviving grandchildren include Jason Shrum; Katie (and Craig) Keough; Lukas Shrum; Gabrielle Shrum; Sophia Shrum; Tyler Shrum; Keelie Shrum and Keith Shrum.  Surviving great grandchildren are:  Kallie Harris and Penelope Keough.

He was loved by many cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews plus many friends and other relatives. Sonny will be missed greatly.

Services will be held, Saturday, June 10, 2023, at Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan, Monty Flanigan officiating.   Visitation will begin at 11:00 a.m. and the Celebration of Life will begin at 1:00 p.m.