Rose Mary Shoemaker

February 28, 1922 - April 11, 2016

Rose Mary Shoemaker of Weatherford, TX, formerly of Medicine Lodge, KS died Monday, April 11, 2016 at the Arbor House in Weatherford, TX. She was born on February 28, 1922 in Ottawa, KS, the daughter of Leon Lotspeich and Ella (Weith) Lotspeich. On October 31, 1943, she married Leo C. Shoemaker in Ottawa, KS. He preceded her in death on February 23, 2000. Rose Mary passed away peacefully at the age of 94. She is survived by her four sons, Dr. James L. (Carol) of Chalmette, LA, Col. ( Ret. USAR) Jerry J. (Rebecca) of Weatherford, TX, John M. (Marge) also of Weatherford, TX, and Jeffery K. (d. Jo Ann) of Friendswood, TX. Additionally she recognized a foreign exchange student, Gustavo Perera of Uruguay as one of her own. She was the beloved grandmother of 14, great grandmother of 36 with another on the way, and great great grandmother of 10. Rose Mary was a longtime and very involved resident of the Medicine Lodge community. She held the Boy Scout organization near and dear to her heart. She was active in scouting on both the local level as well as the national level for over 50 years. She spent many summers at the Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico training scout leaders from across the country. The presentation of the Silver Fawn Award recognized her service at the national level. This was one of only four Silver Fawn Awards ever presented. Rose Mary was a typist at the former Barber County Index Newspaper. Her stories of the poker games after the paper was out on Fridays were legendary and a source of great amusement to both herself and those who were brave enough to participate. She was a long time member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary and annually assisted in putting up the American flags on Main Street and at the cemetery. Rose Mary was a regular blood donor, acknowledged by the American Red Cross for having donated over 8 gallons of blood in her lifetime. She began keeping journals of her daily activities during her teen years and continued this practice through her eighties providing her family with a rich personal history chronicling detailed events normally lost in the shuffle of everyday living. Rose Mary had a huge heart, was very accepting and understanding without judgement. She was known as a force of nature to those whose path she crossed and whose friendship she cultivated. A true free spirit, she soloed in an airplane in the early 1940’s as a single 19 – 20 year old female, a feat all but unheard of at the time. She will be missed but we are at peace knowing that she lived a very long and interesting life. In 2009 she moved to Weatherford, TX to be nearer to family. The family is extremely grateful to the staff of the Arbor House Assisted Facility for truly loving our mom and treating her like their own. In addition to her husband, Rose Mary was preceded in death by her parents, a daughter-in-law, Jo Ann Shoemaker, and a great great grandson. Visitation will be held on Friday, April 15, 2016 from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and with the family from 5 – 7 p.m. at Larrison Funeral Home, 120 E. Lincoln, Medicine Lodge, KS 67104. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 16, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at the Larrison Funeral Home, Medicine Lodge, KS with Pastor Tom Walters officiating. Burial will be in the Highland Cemetery, Medicine Lodge, KS. A reception for Rose Mary’s friends and friends of the family will be held at the Grand Hotel following the graveside services from 3:30 – 6: 00 p.m. Memorials may be made to the Boy Scouts of America in care of Larrison Funeral Home, 120 E. Lincoln, Medicine Lodge, KS 67104. Condolences may be left at www.larrisonmortuary.com.