Owensboro St. Jude Event Dedicated to Shoe Stop's Mark Shively

On December 1st, 2024, folks here in Owensboro and Daviess County lost a very close, beloved, and well-respected friend. Local businessman Mark Shively, who owned Shoe Stop, passed away at age of 64, following "a long valiant fight with cancer." His enduring spirit and love for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital are with us this week as we continue our annual tradition- our own fight against the "monster."

As Vickie Morris, whose husband Jerry is one of Mark's cousins, explains, "St. Jude was so special to him." It certainly was. Mark was instrumental in working with Jerry and the Angels for Ashley Cooking Team to create an annual fundraising cookout for St. Jude.

Back in 2012, WBKR midday personality Jaclyn Graves and I continued our mission of working to overhaul the way we did our St. Jude Radiothon. We knew that the primary key to success was building a local St. Jude army of supporters. We reached out to Jerry and Vickie and asked them if they would consider bringing their cooking team on board with the mission. They instantly said, "Yes!"

Jerry then, just as instantly, reached out to Mark. Jerry wanted to bring that cookout to the one of the busiest areas of Owensboro. At that time, Mark's Owensboro Shoe Stop location was situated on the highly-trafficked south end of Frederica Street. During our St. Jude Radiothon, that Shoe Stop parking lot- at Towne Square North- looked and smelled like meat. And money! That cookout has grown ever since. Shoe Stop, now at a relatively new location at Wesleyan Park Plaza, still hosts it and the cookout gets bigger every single year.

Over the years, Mark's commitment to the cause combined with the dedication and tireless work ethic of Jerry, Vickie and the Angels for Ashley Cooking Team, have put over one million dollars on the WBKR St. Jude tote board. That's worth repeating. OVER. ONE. MILLION. DOLLARS.

While Jerry, Vickie and their team have been the faces of that charitable endeavor, Mark was long a driving force in the background. As Vickie explains, "He was a behind-the-scenes man. Mark was really one that didn't like the spotlight."

But, to honor him, we feel it's vitally important to turn that spotlight on during the 21st Annual WBKR Window World St. Jude Radiothon. We are dedicating this year's entire event to Mark Shively and his family.

Lexie Hall

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Yes, Mark was a beloved community man. He was a beloved family man, as well. And a beloved employer and mentor.

WBKR

Longtime Shoe Stop employee Bethany Yaeger Shields shared this upon Mark's passing.

Bethany Yaeger Shields

Bethany was just 18-years-old when she started working at Shoe Stop part-time. She worked there for nearly 15 years and eventually became an assistant supervisor at the store. She credits Mark with her personal and professional growth. "He helped me grow into a person with better integrity, taught me the value of hard work, and helped shape me into the person I am today."

She added, "The world has lost an incredible person."

Well, for the next two days, throughout our annual St. Jude Radiothon, we are going to celebrate that incredible person and dedicate our 26-hour broadcast to Mark's legacy of leading with heart and love.

To show their appreciation, our friends at ALSAC/St. Jude had this special plaque made for Mark's family. It immortalizes Mark's dedication to the mission of the hospital and its magnificent and brave patients who battle the same war he waged.

WBKR

At Mark's recent funeral, the family requested that expressions of sympathy could take the form of donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. If you would like to become a St. Jude Partner-in-Hope in Mark's honor, you can do that by calling 1-800-201-8883. Or you can text HOPE to 626262.

To become a St. Jude Partner is quite simple. It's $19 per month on a debit or credit card. All St. Jude Partners will receive a brand new "This Shirt Saves Lives" t-shirt.

St. Jude

Plus, this year our Partners receive this awesome 'Music Gives' sweatshirt.

WBKR

Of course, you can also visit the Angels for Ashley Cooking Team at Shoe Stop. I guarantee you that Mark is going to be there too- in spirit, love and hope.