Wanda Shanks

Wanda Brown Stout Shanks, age 91, of Buffalo Valley, TN, went to be with her Heavenly Father on May 23, 2024. Fittingly, she passed suddenly but peacefully at her home on the farm she cherished. Wanda was born on January 13, 1933, in Granville, TN, to the late Mr. Ferd Hargis Stout and Mrs. Velma Brown Stout. She was married to the love of her life, Walter Warren Shanks, for over 48 years. They raised three sons on their farm in Buffalo Valley, TN. After Walter’s passing in 1997, Wanda continued their dream of caring for and restoring the historic farm while simultaneously working as a bookkeeper for Cookeville High School. After 33 years, Wanda retired from the Putnam County School system. While continuing to operate the farm and raise her cattle, Wanda rekindled one of her favorite activities - playing basketball, a sport she excelled at during high school at Baxter Seminary. She became a three-time gold medalist in the National Senior Games. Wanda was also recognized for her skills as a beef cattle farmer; at market, her cattle consistently graded as “Choice” quality meat. Over the years Wanda has been a valued cooperator with the Putnam County Soil Conservation District. As a result of her dedication to conservation of our natural resources, she earned the Master Conservation Farmer Award in 2001.

She was regularly sought after by various media productions and publications about her life on the farm. In 2008, she was featured on the cover of the Tennessee Cooperator magazine with the headline, "Hoops and Hooves - Basketball and Cattle are Keeping 75-Year-old Wanda Shanks Young at Heart.” In 2010, she was featured on Live Green Tennessee, a local public television program presented by WCTE PBS. In 2018, 385 Magazine, a publication of the Cookeville Herald-Citizen, featured the article, “Farm Girl - At 85, Wanda Shanks Still Works the Farm She Began Working When She Married 69 Years Ago.” Also, in 2018, Wanda was interviewed by FarmHer on RFD-TV. In the episode, she could be seen wrangling a young calf and calling her momma cows “pretty girls.” In 2019, New Holland’s Acres magazine published the article, “A Marriage of Beef and Basketball - Octogenarian Loves Farming, Raising Cattle and Shooting Hoops.” Wanda’s mantra, “Don’t ever think about a rocking chair, or otherwise you will stay in it.” was quoted many times throughout these publications and truly encapsulated her zest for life.

Wanda was a devoted Christian and a member of Buffalo Valley Presbyterian Church for over 70 years, where she served as pianist for many years and was recently recognized for her 37 years of service as treasurer. Wanda was a remarkable woman who never met a stranger and was an inspiration to all. Her love and dedication to the Lord, her family and friends, and her land and country were undeniable. She was truly one of a kind and will be missed immensely.

Wanda was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Morgan Warren Shanks, her son Stanley Warren Shanks, and her siblings Elton (Dorothy Nell) and Earl (Wanda Sue) Stout as well as daughter-in-law, Kathy (Wayne) Shanks, brother-in-law Eldon (Treba) Carter, sister and brother-In-law Dorothy and Ralph Fike, sister-in-law Doris (Robert) Shanks, brother and sister-in-law Reginald and Andeline Shanks.

Wanda leaves behind her loving sons, Walter Hargis (Lynn) Shanks and Morgan Wayne Shanks, and daughter-in-law, Cindy Shanks Houseman; her grandchildren, Walter H. Shanks, Jr., Robert Shanks, Tiffany (Matt) Davidson, Andrea (Drew) Langley, Wes (Alex) Shanks, Rachel (Josh) Settle, and Sara (Danny) Dorr; her siblings, Treba Carter, Tony (Linda) Stout, Sarah (Chuck) Johnson and Donnita (Ron) Williams; sister-in-laws Dorothy Nell Stout and Wanda Sue Stout, brother-in-law, Robert A. Shanks; and 15 adoring great-grandchildren.

Wanda’s nephews Bunker Stout, Patrick Stout, Michael Carter, Larry Carter, Kenny Stout, Mark Stout, Charles Johnson, David Johnson, Andy Hill, Monty Hill, Alton Roark and Gary Bodenstein. will serve as pallbearers. Her great-grandsons Easton Davidson, Ethan Shanks, Graham Davidson, Court Langley, Garrett Langley, Collin Shanks, Tanner Shanks, Jacob Dorr and Carter Dorr will serve as the honorary pallbearers.

Visitation and service will be held at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church at 565 E 10th Street, Cookeville, TN 38501. Visitation will be on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm and Wednesday, May 29, 2024, from 11:00 am until time of service at 1:00 pm. Burial will immediately follow the service in Buffalo Valley at the Maddux Family Cemetery on the Shanks Farm at 2900 Maddux Cemetery Rd, Silver Point, TN 38582.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Stanley Warren Shanks Memorial Endowment for Baseball Fund at Middle Tennessee State University. Fund #94842. Mailing Address: The Foundation, MTSU Box 109, 1301 East Main Street, Murfreesboro, TN 37132. Office: (615) 898-2502.

Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home is handling the funeral arrangements (931) 526-6111. Wanda’s family encourages you to share memories and condolences at www.hhhfunerals.com