Obituary for Joe Shoemaker

Joe Max Shoemaker of Blackwell, Oklahoma, died Thursday, March 5, 2015, in the Integris Bass Medical Center in Enid, Oklahoma, at the age of 81 years.

Joe Max Shoemaker was born on February 4, 1934, in Blackwell to Orville Vere and Minnie Gladys (Longan) Shoemaker. He grew up in Blackwell attending Blackwell Public Schools and graduated from Blackwell High School. Following his education in 1952 he began working as an expeditor for Beech Aircraft before working as a material handler for General Motors Corporation. In 1954 he began working in the furnace department for Blackwell Zinc Company before transferring to the mechanical division where he handled work orders and appropriations. In 1956 he entered the United States Army Reserve and was honorably discharged in September of 1958. In 1963 he moved into the personnel department attending to all smelter employee personnel matters. He married Barbara Ann Cobb on January 14, 1966, in Perry, Oklahoma, and they made Blackwell their home where he continued working at the smelter until his retirement in 1975. That same year he began working for the City of Blackwell as deputy city clerk. After four years with the city he began working as a bookkeeper for Shebester-Bechtel Corporation retiring in 1996 after eighteen years of service. He was a member of the Blackwell Church of Christ and the Blackwell Lion’s Club where he served as secretary for twenty years. His many hobbies included bowling, fishing and coaching little league baseball. He also enjoyed playing dominoes, solitaire and watching game shows on television.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Shoemaker of Blackwell; two sons, Tommie Joe Shoemaker of Brady, Nebraska, and Manny Shoemaker and wife Mary of Nolanville, Texas; two sisters, Judy Berry and husband Bill of Surprise, Arizona, and Becky Hall and husband Harold of Nardin; three brothers, Richard Shoemaker and wife Sue of Roswell, Georgia, Larry Shoemaker and wife Doris of Pevely, Missouri, and O. V. Shoemaker and wife Sheri of Edmond, Oklahoma; ten grandchildren, Joanna, Greg, Matt, Tommie, Toni, Joe Lee, Brittany, Chris, Shai and Chloe; and sixteen great grandchildren, Kylee, Koree, Kameron, Keirston, Landon, Lauryn, Mark, Christian, Savanna, Ally, Daylon, Garrett, Aiden, Peyton, Kinzley and Conner.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Jenny DeWitt; three sisters, Wava Trompler, Patsy Klein and Jane Shoemaker; a brother, Homer Shoemaker; and a great granddaughter, Adrianna Morehead.

Services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m., Monday, March 9th in the Blackwell Church of Christ with Lanny Jobe officiating. Burial will follow in the Blackwell Cemetery with military rites performed by the United States Army. The family will be receiving friends at the Church of Christ following the burial.

Honorary casketbearers will be the grandchildren and great grandchildren of Joe Shoemaker. Casketbearers will be members of the Blackwell Church of Christ.

A memorial has been established in his honor with the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation for heart or diabetes research in c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74361.