Rebecca Y. "Becky" Shorb

Rebecca Yates "Becky" Shorb, 77, of Hanover, beloved wife of Harold Shorb, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 26, 2023 at Homewood at Plum Creek, Hanover following a third battle with cancer.

Born on Thursday, September 13, 1945 in Frostburg, MD, she was the beloved daughter of the late Elizabeth Connor Yates and Chief Petty Officer, Roy Stewart Yates. Her parents divorced when she was quite young and when she was 9, William Frederick Williams, III came into her life and became her father in every way. She was welcomed into his family and his parents, Dr. William F. Williams, Jr. and Virginia Mann Williams joined Robert and Agnes Murphy Connor as her devoted grandparents.

Becky attended parochial schools in Frostburg and Cumberland, MD, graduating from Ursuline Academy in 1963. Becky graduated in 1969 from Frostburg University and completed her graduate work at Towson University. In 1969, she began her career as an art teacher in Frederick County, MD and retired in 1997 after 28 years in education. The majority of her career was spent at Catoctin High School in Thurmont, where she was a beloved mentor to many.

Becky and Harold met in 1968 and they married at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Cumberland, MD on June 19, 1971. It was on their honeymoon through New England and maritime Canada that they fell in love with Maine. Upon her retirement, they realized a dream of 30 years when they purchased a cottage on Damariscotta Lake in Jefferson, ME and resided for 6 months of every year.

In Maine, Becky was a member of a plein air artist group and along with a dear friend co-monitored the group until she became ill. She was a signature member of Pastel Painters of Maine, Maryland Pastel Society, the Degas Pastel Society in LA and several more. She was also a former member of the Roundtop Center for the Arts in Damariscotta, ME and served on the board of the Maine Art Gallery in Wiscasett, ME. In Hanover, she was a member of the York Art Association, a Friend of the Eichelberger Performing Arts Center, a member of the Hanover Area Historical Society and a board member of the Hanover Area Arts Guild, where she was involved with the plein air group. Becky was a member of the Hanover Community Church, where she was active in the Bible Study and the prayer groups, who supported her in her final illness. She was also a member of "Dining with Women".

In addition to her husband of nearly 52 years, she is survived by her cousins in SD, MD, OH and FL; her half-sister and half-brother, both in FL; her sweet cat, Callie and many devoted friends.

The Celebration of Life and Service of Remembrance will be held at 1:30 pm on June 25, 2023 at Hanover Community Church, 1959 Smith Station Road, Hanover, PA 17331 with Pastor Scott Brown officiating. There will be a time of fellowship prior to the service from 12 pm to 1:30 pm. Interment will be held at a later date in Rest Haven Memorial Gardens in Frederick, MD. During the summer of 2024, there will be a Service of Remembrance in Second Congregational Church, New Castle ME.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hanover Community Church, or Hanover Area Arts Guild, 32 Carlisle Street, Hanover, PA 17331.