CLASS OF 1930

Services for Hugh Thomas Shoemaker, Independence, MO. were held Thursday in Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home. Mr. Shoemaker, 78, died Saturday, March 18, 1989, in Truman Medical Center, Kansas City, MO. 

The son of John Vote and Pansy Alice DeBerry Shoemaker, he was born Dec, 13, 1910, in Osawatomie. He grew up here and attended Osawatomie schools, graduating from Osawatomie High School in 1930. He began farming two miles east of Beagle. He went to Shenandoah, Iowa, for a short time and it was there he met and later married Thelma Loretta Rennie April 8, 1934. They later returned to the Beagle community to farm. In 1941, he began working for the Missouri Pacific Railroad and moved to Osawatomie in 1942. During this time, he also worked for his father-in-law, J.O. Rennie, painting houses and at the DX Service Station in Osawatomie.

In 1951, the family moved back to the farm and remained there until 1968 when they returned to Osawatomie to live at 106 15^th St. Mr. Shoemaker retired from the railroad as a locomotive engineer in the late 1970s. He was a member of the Priesthood of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He was a member of the Osawatomie church and was pastor there for two years. A brother, William, was among those preceding him in death. 

Survivors include his wife, Thelma, of the home; two sons, James Rennie Shoemaker, Blue Springs, MO and Hugh LeRoy Shoemaker, Richmond , MO; three daughters, Marilyn Carol Luther, Taos, N.M., Thelma Jean Viers Lamar, MO and Beverly Ann Watson, Independence, MO; his mother Pansy Shoemaker, Prairie Village four brothers, Earl Shoemaker, Topeka, Leo Shoemaker, Perry, OK, John Shoemaker, Tillamook, OR and Clifford Shoemaker, San Diego, CA an sister Ruth Young, Kansas City, MO; 14 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. 

Henry Neidinger officiated, music was provided by vocalists Virginia Reese, organist and Bryan Beck and Brenda Beck, vocalists. Pallbearers were Chris Viers, Bryan Beck, Tom Shoemaker, Russel Viers, Scott Shoemaker and Tom Watson IV. Burial was in the Beagle Cemetery. Memorials were made in his name to the Truman Medical Center.