Russell Kenneth Shoemaker Sr.

Services for Russell Shoemaker, 76 of Rayville will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 27, 2018 at the Rayville United Methodist Church with Bro John Kavanaugh officiating. Burial will follow in the NELA Veteran’s Cemetery near Rayville under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home of Rayville.

Russell was born on July 23, 1941 in Archibald and went home to be with the Lord at his residence on June 23, 2018. He is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph B. and Myrtis Smith Shoemaker; brothers, Allen Shoemaker, Johnny Shoemaker, and Vernon Shoemaker.

He loved to fish, square dance, coaching Little League Tee Ball, animals, his dogs, and outdoors. He loved keeping up with worldwide current events. He loved history, traveling, and helping people. He was very patriotic. He was a member of the VFW where he served as State Commander and was rated #3 in the nation by fulfilling all the VFW obligations as State Commander, and American Legion. He devoted all his free time to all the war veterans when he returned home to the states. He retired from the USAF after 21 years and 11 months, Master Sargent in Germany, Turkey, Italy, and Vietnam.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Janie Moreland Shoemaker of Rayville; two sons, Russel K. Shoemaker, Jr. of Puerto Rico and William Lee Shoemaker and wife Sherri of San Antonio, TX; one grandson, Kenneth Ryan Shoemaker of Dallas, TX; daughter-in-law, Lisa Shoemaker of San Antonio, TX; sister, Mickey Ann Fisher of Rayville; brothers, Windell Shoemaker and wife Faye of Rayville, Horace Earl Shoemaker of Michigan, and Jimmy Wayne Shoemaker of Rayville; and a host of other family and friends.

Pallbearers will be Phillip Shoemaker, Chris Austin, Lloyd Hamm, Jimmy Roberts, Mark Roberts, and Harold Kesler. Honorary pallbearers will be Veterans of Foreign Wars and Something More Sunday School Class.

Visitation will be 5:00 until 8:00PM Tuesday, June 26, 2018 at the Mulhearn Funeral Home.