Judith A. "Judie" (Phillips) Shoemaker

Judith A. "Judie" (Phillips) Shoemaker, 84, of Laurens, South Carolina and formerly of Benton, died Tuesday morning, March 19, 2023 at NHC Healthcare, Laurens, SC.

Born January 1, 1940 in Bloomsburg, she was a daughter of the late Thomas Wesley Phillips and Ruth (Adams) Phillips.  

Mrs. Shoemaker was a 1957 graduate of Bloomsburg High School and the former Nesbitt Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, where she earned her RN degree.

She was employed as an RN for various hospitals and director of nursing at the former Gold Star Nursing Home in Danville.  She was also a medical missionary with Healthcare Ministries Team going to various countries and she had lived in Madagascar for two years.  

Her late husband, Derle Shoemaker, was the founder and commander of the area's SWAT Team, known as STAR.  

She was a former member of Glad Tidings Assembly of God, Bloomsburg and attended The Benton Assembly of God Church, while living in the Benton area.

Judie wanted it stated in her obituary that "she enjoyed her life and was thankful for a great life". She loved fishing, gardening and all things outdoors.

Surviving are her daughter, Beverly Jane Boyer and her husband, Clair, of Laurens, SC; four grandchildren:  Nathaniel and Holly Shoemaker; John Kudrysch and April Ferraro; four great grandchildren:  Zachery Ferraro, John Charles Shoemaker,Savanna Shoemaker and Skyler Shoemaker; two step grandchildren:  Becky and Gabe Wright; a sister:  Mary Jane Baker and her husband, George Grant Baker, III, of Rome, PA. 

Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Derle E. Shoemaker, who died June 16, 1992; two sons:  William Howard Shoemaker, who died February 2017 and Timothy Shoemaker, who died in infancy in 1963; a grandson, Connor Ferraro, who died in January 2023; three brothers:  Leroy Phillips, who died in 1978; T. Wesley Phillips, who died on February 6, 2017; Benjamin F. Phillips and by a sister, Martha Stroble. 

A Celebration of Life Service will be held Saturday, June 8th, 2024 at 12 Noon at the McMichael Funeral Home, Inc., 4394 Red Rock Road, Benton with Pastor Mark Shellenberger, her former Pastor and family friend, officiating.  The Family will receive friends from 11 AM until the time of the Service at 12 Noon at McMichael's on June 8th. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to Healthcare Ministries, 521 West Lynn Street, Springfield, MO  65802.

The McMichael Funeral Home, Inc., of Benton, is honored to serve the Shoemaker Family. For online condolences or for additional information, please visit our website:  www.mcmichaelfuneralhome.com

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