Extracted from the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal (Tupelo, MS)
Ellen Shoemaker
OKOLONA -- Ellen Gentry Shoemaker, 73, died Sunday, April 2, 2000, at Gilmore Memorial Hospital in Amory. She was born April 25, 1926, in Van Vleet to Byrd Everette Gentry and Beulah Sykes Gentry who preceded her in death. A lifelong resident of Chickasaw County, she was a retired school teacher and member of First United Methodist Church of Okolona where she taught Sunday school for many years. She received a B.S. degree from Mississippi State University in special education and taught school at Shannon, Okolona and Chickasaw Academy. She was a member of the Twentieth Century Club, several Bridge clubs, the Christian Women's Club, the Precept Bible Study Group, and United Methodist Women. She loved cooking, entertaining, gardening, flowers and music. She was married to Dr. Joseph H. Shoemaker who preceded her in death.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at First United Methodist Church, Okolona, with the Rev. Jim Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Oddfellows Cemetery, also in Okolona. Lee Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Survivors include her children, Verna Bowen and husband, Jim, Joseph Shoemaker Jr., Drew Shoemaker and wife, Charmen, and Alan Shoemaker, all of Okolona, Garry Reifers and wife, Jane, of Oxford, Debbie Bowie and husband, Soren, of Batesville, David Reifers and wife, Sharon, of Columbus, Tricia Shoemaker Koch and husband, Mark, of Dallas, Texas, Kent Shoemaker and wife, Sandy, of Van Vleet, and Phillip Shoemaker of Tupelo; 19 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Bob Gregory, Bill Gregory, Jamie Darnell, Mike West, Jesse Brand and Dr. John Ed Harris.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Okolona Funeral Home, and Wednesday from 10 a.m. until service time at the church.
Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 436, Okolona, MS 38860.
Tuesday, April 4, 2000