Extracted from The Laurel Leader-Call (Laurel, MS)
Herbert Austin Shoemaker
Herbert Austin Shoemaker, 85, of Laurel, died on Thursday, September 18, 2008, at his residence.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. this afternoon at Memory Chapel Funeral Home in Laurel. Burial will be in Sunset Gardens Cemetery in Laurel. The Rev. Jerry Wilkerson and the Rev. Mark Quarles will officiate.
Mr. Shoemaker was born on December 28, 1922 in Jasper County. He moved to Jones County in his early teens with his parents. Austin met his wife of 69 years, Lois Saterfiel of Lake at church. They married December 9, 1939. A WWII veteran, he farmed, worked at Mingles and Masonite before going to work at Transco Energy (now Williams Company) at Sandersville where he retired after 35.5 years. He was a deer and turkey hunter, enjoyed The Williams' retirement events, and spending time outside sitting and watching the neighborhood.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Edward and Mossill Williams Shoemaker; one sister, Portia Sims; and three brothers, Curtis, Robert Earl and Hillmon Shoemaker.
He was a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather.
Surivors include his wife, Lois Shoemaker; two daughters and sons-in-law, Linda and Joe Tally of Forest, and Jill and Bill Glenn of Laurel; four grandsons, Phil Tally and wife Laura Tally, Ken Tally, Corey Hunt, and Craig Austin Hunt and wife LeighAnn Hunt; eight great-grandchildren, Katie, Kyle and Luke Tally; Kara Kassidy and Chase Tally and Hayden Austin and Carson Hunt; one brother, Dewitt Shoemaker and wife, Cynthia Shoemaker; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Phillip Shoemaker, Pat Shoemaker, Eddie Shoemaker, Chris Poore, Joey McCraney, Jeffrey Hopkins and Clarence Soley.
Memory Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
To sign or view the family's guestbook, visit www.leadercall.com.
Saturday, September 20, 2008