JoAnn Shoemake
A loving Mother, Grandmother, & Great-Grandmother, JoAnn Shoemake (95) passed away peacefully at home in Bellevue on April 8th, 2024 with her children by her side.
JoAnn was born on Aug. 24th, 1928 in Holyrood, Kansas to Eleanora Tobias & Franklyn Somer, and her older sister Betty Jean McCallie (Somer). The Somer family moved to Estacada, Oregon in 1937 in a Model A Ford towing a homemade trailer with all of their possessions, where JoAnn attended school until graduating from Estacada Union High School in 1942. During her school years, JoAnn played volleyball, ran track, and was even a ping-pong champion!
After graduating High School in 1942, JoAnn attended Oregon State University where she was a member of the sorority, Sigma Kappa. It was in college at a church service that JoAnn met her husband of 62 years, James (Jim) LeRoy Shoemake. JoAnn and James married Aug. 20th, 1950, then traveled from Oregon all over the US for James to pursue his education and Military career.
JoAnn devoted herself to being a wonderful Mother to four adventurous children, three boys and one girl. After their daughter was born in 1971, JoAnn attended Western Washington College where she earned a Montessori certificate and degree in Education in 1978. JoAnn then worked as a Montessori teacher at both Bellevue Montessori and Eton School until she retired in 1990.
Jim and JoAnn moved to a farm in Sunnyside, WA where they made many happy memories with friends and family. They also acquired a second home in Desert Hot Springs, CA where they spent half the year enjoying the weather, golfing, swimming, dancing, and much more. JoAnn was active in her local Red Hat Club and she even performed a tap number on-stage in Las Vegas. She was an avid reader, enjoyed crossword puzzles, and took an active role in the lives of her many Grandchildren. They also spent a great deal of time at their beach cabin on Guemes Island, making countless wonderful memories with their family and friends. JoAnn’s unofficial rule was to live each day to the fullest and to keep healthy, which she certainly did through her many wonderful pursuits over her long and very full life.
JoAnn was preceded in death by her husband James Shoemake, her sister Betty Jean McCallie, and her Grandson Daniel Shoemake. She is survived by her sons, Kim Shoemake, Donald Shoemake, and Rex Shoemake, and her daughter Jill Russo; her grandchildren Kristina Lewis, Maxwell Shoemake, Mitchell Shoemake, Brett Shoemake, Annie Shoemake, Haley Russo, Jack Russo, & Somer Russo; and her great-grandchildren Elise Shoemake, Calvin Shoemake, Hunter Lewis, Jackson Shoemake, Magnus Shoemake, and Bennett Lewis.
A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, May 10that 10:00 am at Tahoma National Cemetery, and a Celebration of Life for JoAnn will be held on Friday, May 10th at 3:00 pm at the Newport Hills Swim & Tennis Club. Donations may be made in JoAnn’s honor to Evergreen Health Hospice Care of Kirkland, WA.
