George A. Shoemaker
June 21, 1922 - Nov. 14, 2208
Tuesday, November 18, 2008 10:50 AM PST
New Plymouth
George A. Shoemaker, 86, New Plymouth, passed away Friday, Nov. 14, 2008, at his home. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008, at Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, New Plymouth, and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Fruitland, with Rosary recited at 7 p.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008, at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Fruitland. Interment will follow at Park View Cemetery, New Plymouth. Services and arrangements are under the direction of Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, New Plymouth.
George was born June 21, 1922, in Grand Island, Neb., to George Jesse and Frances Schneider Shoemaker. He grew up on the family farm and custom farmed with his father until 1947. They were among the first farmers in the area to plant hybrid corn seed. In 1945, he met and married the love of his life, Lucille Rourke. They celebrated 63 years together on Oct. 26, 2008. In Jan. 1948, they loaded their two small children and all their worldly goods into an old car and homemade trailer and drove to Nampa, Idaho. He was proud of the fact that he obtained a job with the railroad the next day after arriving in Idaho.
In 1950, in partnership with Lucille’s parents, they purchased a farm in the Melmont area, northwest of Melba, where he learned to irrigate. In 1959, George and Lucille purchased the Presley ranch on the Weiser River. Since 1964, they have lived in their home on their farm on Adams Road, west of New Plymouth. He remained active with his sons in the farming operation until 2000. During his working years, George worked 28 campaigns at the Nampa and Nyssa sugar factories and 32 corn runs for American Fine Foods.
For several years beginning in 1987, George and Lucille traveled during the winter months. They spent time sightseeing the United States, visiting friends and relatives and attending events of their grandchildren. Family was always important to him. If they were in the area, George rarely missed the weekly Shoemaker family breakfasts that were started by his father in 1980, continuing with his siblings and attended by children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of all. He most recently attended three weeks ago. George was active in the New Plymouth senior citizens group, where he served on the board for seven years.
In addition to Lucille, George is survived by his nine children, Art and Sandi Shoemaker, Nampa, Idaho, Judy and Rich Crowley, Austin, Texas, Jeanne and JR Stark, Delphi, Ind., Mike and Sandy Shoemaker, New Plymouth, Lois and Nic Guidinger, Caldwell, Idaho, Dan and Norine Shoemaker, New Plymouth, MariLu and John Simpson, Clinton, Tenn., Jon and Donna Shoemaker, Mooresville, N.C., and Sheri and Carl Main, Boise, Idaho; his brother, Larry and Marilee Shoemaker, Nampa, Idaho; and sister, Dee McIntyre Harrison, Caldwell, Idaho; 23 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one great-grandson; a brother, Bill; sisters, Arlene Shoemaker and Theresa Biggers; brothers-in-law, Floyd Rourke, Bob McIntyre, Everett Biggers and Everett Harrison; and sisters-in-law, Agnes Rourke, Bindewald Newman and Patsy Shoemaker.
The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Corpus Christi Building Fund, New Plymouth Senior Citizens or the Kirkpatrick Center in Ontario, c/o Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, P.O. Box 730, Payette, ID 83661.
