Extracted from the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal (Tupelo, MS)
Friday, October 22, 1999

Dr. J.H. Shoemaker

OKOLONA -- Dr. Joseph H. Shoemaker, 74, died Wednesday, Oct. 20, 1999, at the North Mississippi Medical Center after a brief illness. He was born May 10, 1925, in Jasper County to Walter H. and Lillie Read Shoemaker. He was educated in the public schools of Jasper County and received his bachelor's degree from the University of Mississippi. He earned his medical degree at Louisiana State University Medical School. He did his internship at Charity Hospital in New Orleans and his residency at Baptist Hospital in Jackson. He moved to Okolona in 1954 and began his practice as a general practitioner. He served for 45 years before retiring in July 1999. He was chief of staff at the Okolona Community Hospital for more than 40 years. He was active in the Mississippi Medical Association and served as the Chickasaw County representative for many years. He was appointed by Gov. Kirk Fordice to the Mississippi Hospital Commission. He was a past president of the Okolona Lions Club, a board member of the Mississippi Economic Development Council and a past president of the Okolona Chamber of Commerce. He was named Citizen of the Year in Okolona in 1983 and 1999. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran and a member of the American Legion. He was active in Republican Party politics. He attended the First United Methodist Church of Okolona.

Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Church in Okolona with the Rev. Jim Smith officiating. Burial will be in Oddfellows Cemetery. Lee Memorial/Okolona Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include his wife, Ellen Gentry Shoemaker of Okolona, whom he married in 1955; 10 children, Verna Bowen and her husband, Jim, of Okolona, Garry Reifers and his wife, Jane, of Oxford, Debbie Bowie and her husband, Soren, of Batesville, David Reifers and his wife, Sharon, of Columbus, Joseph Shoemaker Jr. and his wife, Michelle, of Okolona, Tricia Koch and her husband, Mark, of Dallas, Texas, Kent Shoemaker and his wife, Sandy, of Van Vleet, Alan Shoemaker of Okolona, Phillip Shoemaker of Tupelo, and Drew Shoemaker and his wife, Charmen, of Okolona; six brothers and sisters, Marvin Shoemaker of Fullerton, Calif., Myra Kincaide of Los Alamitos, Calif., Delores Shoemaker of Los Angeles, Calif., Rachel Prilousky of Memphis, Hope Ulmer of Bay Springs and Celeste Barnes of Sykesville, Md.; 19 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Gerald Shoemaker; and a sister, Laura Allison Shoemaker.

Pallbearers will be Eric and Charlie Dawson, Adrian Shoemaker, Read Shoemaker, Will Reifers and Michael Dabbs.

Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Henry Watson, Dr. John Ed Harris, DeVan Hill, Tom Brooks, Willie Gregory, Gordon Comer, Dr. Frank Baker, John Sibley, Dr. J.O. Stephens, Dr. Heber Etheridge and Dr. Austin Boggan.

Visitation will be from 4:30 to 9 p.m. today at Okolona Funeral Home. The body will lie in state from 1:30 p.m. to service time Saturday at the church.

Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 436, Okolona MS 38860.