Billy Scott Shoemaker of Tuscumbia, passed away on May 19, 2017. He was born September 8, 1935 in Holly Pond, AL. He moved to Russellville, AL when he was eight years old, and lived there until he graduated from Russellville High School in 1953.
Bill attended UNA for one year before transferring to the University of Alabama to pursue a degree in Civil Engineering. While at the University he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. Bill’s entire engineering career was spent with the Alabama Department of Transportation. He retired as a Division Engineer after 40 years of service. Upon retirement he opened Shoemaker Surveying and Mapping. He was also a consultant with Earth Tech for five years.
Bill proudly served the city of Tuscumbia as Mayor for 12 years.
He was a member of the Tuscumbia Kiwanis Club and served as President. He was a member of Turtle Point Yacht and Country Club where he served on the Board of Directors. He served on the Board of the Shoals Chamber of Commerce. He was twice elected Tuscumbia Kiwanian Citizen of the Year- once in 2005 and again in 2016. Bill was a life long member of the Methodist Church, belonging to the First United Methodist Church in Tuscumbia since 1959. He served on the Administrative Board, and taught a Sunday School Class for 15 years.
Bill served in the Alabama National Guard for 14 years. He also served as President of the Alabama Retired Employees Association.
Bill was on the United Way Board, was selected Winfield Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year in 1994 and was awarded the Bronze Award for Service in 1988.
He was a loving husband, a devoted father and grandfather.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents Opal and F.F. Shoemaker, brother Donal Douglas Shoemaker and his beloved daughter Shannon.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Patsy Johnston Shoemaker, his daughter Suzanne Shoemaker and his granddaughter Rebekah Allen Alexander.
There will be a visitation at Morrison Funeral Home in Tuscumbia on Sunday, May 21st from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. The service will be on Monday, May 22nd at 11:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Tuscumbia with Dr. Rudy Guess and Reverend John Tanner officiating. The body will be placed in the church at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery, Tuscumbia.
Pall bearers will be Dr. Lew Sample, Dr. Jim Maples, Mike Tanner, Billy Mitchell, Eddy Harris and Brian Prince.
Honorary pall bearers will be Harold Maples, Randy Simpson, M.B. Myers, Jerry Wages, John McKelvey, Jerry Wilbanks, Bobby Mitchell, James Brown, Dr. Randy Davis and Richard Coates
The family wishes to thank Dr. Jack McLendon and Dr. Lynn Ridgeway and all the Nursing staff at Helen Keller Hospital and J W Sommer for their love and care.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Tennessee Valley Art Association, or First United Methodist Church, Tuscumbia.
