Julie Marguerite Shofstall

Julie Marguerite (Hortman) Shofstall, 54, of Chandler, passed away Monday, June 14, 2010, at St. Mary’s Medical Center. She was born August 19, 1955, in Evansville. Julie was the owner of Shofstall Photography. A professional with an Associate’s Degree in Visual Arts, she was the official photographer for the Labor Day Association. In past years she had worked at Olan Mills Studios, Sears Portrait Studio, and for 16 years with her dear friend Sharon Dassell (Portraits by Sharon). Julie was a lifelong member of St. John’s East United Church of Christ and performed in the Hand Bell Choir. Julie loved and protected the environment, and was a Bronze Level Member of SWIMGA (Southwestern Indiana Master Gardeners Association). Julie was a lifelong member of the Girl Scouts and had been employed by the Raintree Girl Scout Council as a Seasonal Field Assistant and Program Specialist. She served as an unpaid volunteer in numerous capacities: Co-leader for Brownie, Junior, Cadette and Senior Girl Scout troops; Troop Services Director; Service Unit Committees; Three Lakes Day Camp Steering Committee and Junior Unit Leader; and naturally was the photographer for the Father/ Daughter Dances. Julie was the Chairwoman for the Annual Cookie Sales for 18 years (“A balanced diet is a Girl Scout Cookie in each hand”). Julie was politically active and volunteered in many local, state and federal campaigns for Democrat candidates. Other interests included reading, computers, history and genealogy, bird-watching, camping, canoeing and traveling with her family. She and her husband Steve were blessed to be able to take a dream vacation trip to Europe for 7 weeks last year, where she took over 12,000 photographs. Julie was a vibrant woman; her beautiful ever-present smile would light up any room she entered. She was known by many nicknames: “Shutterbug” (obviously); “Ding-a-ling” (hand bell ringer); “Recycle Queen” (saving the planet one plastic bottle at a time); “Domestic Goddess” (she preferred that rather than housewife); and “Saint Julie” (partly for her kind and giving spirit, but mostly for putting up with Steve for so many years). She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Robert and Lucile Hortman and Frank and Lucille Schimmel; great-aunt, Marguerite Peterson; father-in-law, Donald Shofstall; and father, Albert Hortman. Julie is survived by her husband of 28 years, Stephen R. Shofstall; children, Justin Kyle, Jessica Lynne and John Michael; mother, Joan (Schimmel) Moore and husband, George of Scottsdale, AZ; other mother, Anita Hortman of Warner Robins, GA; mother-in-law, June E. Shofstall of Evansville; sisters, Laura Lou Little and husband, Chuck of Cochran, GA, Tina Marie Perkins of Warner Robins, GA, Donna Lucille Cline and husband, Dana of Lizella, GA; sister-in-law, Sherry Lee May and husband, Jeff of Haubstadt; brother-in-law, John David Shofstall and wife, Sandra of Evansville; uncle, Mack Hortman and wife, Judy of Macon, GA; aunts, Gwendolyn King of Phenix City, AL, Jeanette Ricks and husband, Bob of Salem, AL, and Aleca Hortman of Macon, GA; former in-laws Howard and Grace Hill of Dry Branch, GA; numerous cousins; and 5 nieces, 4 nephews, 3 grandnieces and 6 grandnephews. The family would like to thank the doctors and nursing staff at St. Mary’s Medical Center for the tender care that Julie received this past week, and her many friends’ kind thoughts and prayers. Services will be 2:00 PM Friday, June 18, 2010 at Alexander East Chapel, officiated by Pastor Ken Townsend with burial at Oak Hill Cemetery. Friends may visit Thursday from 2:00 to 8:00 PM and Friday from 12:00 PM until service time at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children (2001 South Lindbergh Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63131-3597), the American Heart Association, or a charity of your choice.