Deeks née Mary Phipps passed away peacefully at 95 in an assisted living facility in Herndon, nearly 41 years to the day of the death of her beloved husband Richard Fuller Shryock “Dick.” Born on July 7, 1925 in St. Louis she spent much of her childhood in Baltimore. She graduated from William and Mary College in 1946, where she served as yearbook editor. After marriage in 1950 to Dick in Baltimore they moved to the DMV, where she lived the remainder of her life, primarily in Bethesda. Deeks engaged in many volunteer activities, including 40 years as a docent for the Smithsonian, years of service to the Bethesda Women’s Club, and member and fundraiser for Cedar Lane Memorial Church.. Following her husband’s death in 1979, she toured the world into her 70s, visiting nearly all of West Europe as well as Russia, Turkey, Egypt, China, Australia, New Zealand and Panama. She was a loving mother to her son Richard Shryock (Paola Ciardi) and daughter Mary Dickson Meraw (Paul) and grandmother to Mary Dickson Bowden (Samuel), Colt Meraw (Shannon David), Troy Meraw (Samantha Aviles) and Heather Madden (Zachery), and her caregiver and dear friend, Salamatu Tonkara, all of whom will miss her dearly. Due to Covid restrictions a memorial service will be held over the summer and a private graveside service for family only on January 9th. Donations can be made in her name to the Smithsonian Institution at support.si.edu. Messages for the family can be left on the Joseph Gawler’s Sons LLC website.