Harold Earl Shockley

Harold Earl Shockley passed away at his home in Lillian, Alabama, on October 31, 2025, where he resided with his beloved wife, Cynthia Lee Dawson, and stepson, Noah Truesdale.

Born on June 24, 1938, in Granite City, Illinois, Harold was the only son born of the marriage between Earl Melvin Shockley and Velba Geraldine Sullivan. Following Velba’s passing, Earl married Clara Belle Hagler, and together they raised Harold in Steelville, Missouri, alongside his half-siblings Gladys, Wayne, and Thelma. Harold graduated from Steelville High School with the Class of 1956.

After graduation, Harold returned to southern Illinois, where he dedicated 45 years of service to Granite City Steel, working as a valued member of the management scheduling team. Throughout his career, Harold was known as a respected colleague, mentor and trusted friend—admired for his professionalism, integrity, and kindness.

Never one for flowery words, he daily demonstrated his love through his pattern of hard work and dedication to the welfare of those loved.

From his first marriage came his daughter, Vickie Knott. Through his second marriage, he became father to three children whom he later adopted as his own—Lorie Cotton, Dawn Onanian, and Carolyn Shockley.

Later, through his marriage to Jean “Jeannie” Schwertmann, he welcomed adult stepdaughters Barb Mindak and Laura Donaldson into his life. Most recently, upon marrying Cynthia Lee Dawson, Harold’s family grew once more to include stepchildren Adam Schmitt, Le’A Dawes, and Noah Truesdale. Regardless of how they entered his life, each child and stepchild was loved with the same steady devotion that defined Harold’s character.

Harold was preceded in death by his wife of 25 years, Jeannie Schwertmann Shockley; his father; his mother and stepmother; and his half-siblings Wayne, Gladys and Thelma Shockley, and Joyce, Leslie and Raymond French.

He is survived by his loving wife, Cynthia; his children and stepchildren listed above; his beloved aunt, Doris Sullivan Richert; his grandchildren; his great-grandchildren; and many dear and cherished friends and colleagues.

Harold will be cremated, and a celebration of life in his honor will be scheduled at a later date.