LaVera Shoup of Silver City, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, entered into eternal rest July 11 at Gila Regional Medical Center after a long illness. She was 75.

She was born LaVera Daphne to Tom and Mabel Wilson and was raised in Little Rock, Ark. There, she met and married the love of life, Whitney V. Shoup, her husband for 56 years. The couple moved to Silver City in 1960 to run the Meadows Rexall drug store. A few years after, Shoups owned and operated the Sav-On Drug Store, first on Bullard, then on Hudson, for 32 years. Mrs. Shoup had many interests and activities over the years. Even while in declining health from Alzheimer's disease, she continued to be creative and to enjoy crafts, and her many flowers & plants, and the many wild birds which come to her bird feeder. For many years, the Shoups supported the arts, loved to travel, and were involved in many community activities. She recently was awarded a 20-year service pin by Gila Regional Medical Center Auxillary for working in the hospital gift shop. She was also a member of the Town and Country Garden Club and the Native Plant Society. She served as president of local Planned Parenthood chapter, the local Community Concerts Association, and the Prospectors branch of the Silver City Grant County Chamber of Commerce.

She is also survived by a brother, Richard Wilson and his wife, Sherry, of Georgia; a sister, Anita Vinson, and her husband, Frank, of Arkansas; sons David of Silver City, and Steve of Albuquerque; daughter Suzanne Alberts and son-in-law Bruce Alberts, of Titusville, Fla.; and two grandchildren, Sophia Alberts and Gabriel Alberts of Titusville.

The Memorial Service will be 11 a.m. Friday at the United Methodist Church, 300 W. College Ave. Reception to follow at the church.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the Whitney and LaVera Shoup Healthcare scholarship through the WNMU Foundation, PO Box 1158, Silver City, 88062; or the GRMC Auxillary; or the High Desert Humane Society, or the Silver City Museum.

Entrusted to the care of Baca's Funeral Chapels of Silver City, Baca's Silver City Crematory, 3805 Delk Drive. Phone 388-2334.