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Julia Marguerite Little Shewman, 89, Chesterfield, Mo.
Obituaries · July 24, 2014



Julia Marguerite Little Shewman was born on March 4, 1925, in Camden, Ark., and left this life on July 11, 2014, at age 89 in Chesterfield, Mo. She graduated from Camden High School in Camden, Ark., and Lindenwood College in St. Charles, Mo.

She taught English and directed plays at Forest City and Clarence, Iowa. She attained a masters degree in library science from Iowa State University, then went from there to work as a librarian at Washington University in St. Louis. She taught English, was dean of students and served as director at Monticello Preparatory School in Godfrey, Ill., from 1954 to 1971.

In the 1950’s, she led several tours to Europe during summer break. While at Monticello, she met and married Robert Shewman, to whom she was married for five years. In 1971 she became a librarian at St. Louis University High School in St. Louis, from which she retired in 1990 as director.

She was a member of the St. Louis Genealogical Society, the Greater St. Louis Chapter of the Catholic Library Association and the American Clan Gregor Society. She was a supporter of the Missouri Historical Society, the St. Louis Art Museum, and the Missouri Botanical Garden. A fan of live performances, she was a regular attendee of the St. Louis Symphony and Stages St. Louis Theatre Company.

Always an avid traveler, she took her parents on an extensive tour of Europe and, after her father passed, continued to take her mother on road trips around the United States. Later in life she went on yearly cruises all around the Caribbean as well as the Panama Canal, Hawaii, the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, and northern Europe.

Marguerite loved her family and was the glue that kept them together after her mother was gone.

She will be greatly missed by her brother and his wife, Bob and Marilyn Little of West Liberty, Iowa. Also surviving her are her nieces and nephews: Dave and Patty Nichols, Doug and Mona Nichols, Julia Nichols Olson, and Gretchen Little; as well as her great-nieces and nephews: Carey Nichols, Anderson Nichols, Julia Nichols, Jaimie Olson, and Taylor Olson.

Preceding her in death are her parents, Robert H. Little, Sr. and Ethel (Beyer) Little of West Liberty, Iowa; sisters Barbara Ann Nichols of Ann Arbor, Mich., and Mabel Mullins of Livingston, Tenn., and her beloved dogs, Mink and Maggie.

She touched the lives and hearts of many people, including the many friends she made at Surrey Place during her last years. She was one of a kind. Her burial was at Oak Ridge Cemetery in West Liberty, Iowa on July 14, 2014. The Henderson-Barker Funeral Home in West Liberty was in charge of arrangements.