Stanley Shoemaker, 78

Stanley Shoemaker, 78, passed away on Saturday, April 11, 2009, at the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls. He was born at Mountain Brook in the Creston area on May 29, 1930, to Curtis and Verna Shoemaker.

Family was very important to Stan, as he was the youngest of 11 brothers and sisters.

Stan attended school at Demersville and Lakeside. He graduated from Flathead County High School in 1948.

Stan was a Navy veteran, serving his country during the Korean War. He was stationed in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. He was discharged in 1952.

He met and married the love of his life, Daisy Weaver, in 1954. He and Daisy had three children.

Stan had a varied career, working at the Lakeside Marina, and many years at Bell Manufacturing as a purchasing agent; he also worked at Pack & Company, Plum Creek (Royal Logging), and Renfro Cabinet Shop. Stan officially retired in 1991.

He enjoyed many activities in retirement. Stan left a legacy for his family by designing and building a log cabin at Ashley Lake. He spent many hours woodworking in his shop. He created many special gifts for everyone he loved.

He also loved his church family at Central Christian Church where he served in many capacities, as well as spending many years as an elder of the church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, and three sisters.

He is survived by his wife, Daisy, of Kalispell; sons, Steve and wife, Lynn, of Kalispell, Gary and wife, Tamalyn, of Bellingham, Wash., and daughter, Kathy, and husband, Joe Behrends, of Keizer, Ore.; grandchildren, Barbie and husband Andy McVicker, Angie and husband Aidan Foshay, Becky Shoemaker, Zach and wife Chelsea Shoemaker, Brett Kralman-Shoemaker, Sarah Behrends and Peter Behrends; great-grandchildren twins, Dunham and Daegan McVicker, and Gibson Foshay. He is also survived by a brother, George Shoemaker; and sisters, Mary Preskitt and Doris Lochridge.

Funeral services for Stan will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 17, at Central Christian Church with Dr. Jan Van der Poll officiating. Burial will be in the Creston Cemetery.

The family suggests memorial gifts to the Montana Veterans Home, P.O. Box 250, Columbia Falls, MT 59912; or Central Christian Church, P.O. Box 955, Kalispell, MT 59901.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for Stan's family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and sign Stan's guest book.