Mary Jane Shoemate

Mrs. Mary Jane Shoemate, 86, of LaHarpe, Illinois passed away Friday, June 15, 2007 at 12:45 P.M. at Wesley Village Health Care in Macomb, Illinois.

She was born November 4, 1920 in Galesburg, Illinois, the daughter of George E. and Bernice Waggoner Gillett. She married Richard O. Ozzie Shoemate in 1939 in Dallas City, Illinois.

Her family moved from Galesburg to LaHarpe when Mary was 6 months old. She lived all her life in LaHarpe where she attended grade school and high school. She worked at Sylvania in Burlington and later at the LaHarpe Hospital. Her family, needle crafts, cooking for her family and family gatherings were the joy of her life.

She is survived by one son, Dick Shoemate of Vero Beach, Florida, three daughters, Marilyn Fox of LaHarpe, Jan Owen of Lees Summit, Missouri and Kathy Strickland of Port Richey, Florida, 9 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and one sister, Barbara Smyser of LaHarpe.

She was preceded in death by 5 brothers, 3 sisters and her parents.

Services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Tuesday, June 19, 2007 at Banks & Beals Funeral Home in LaHarpe with Darren Beachy officiating. Burial will be in the LaHarpe Cemetery. Friends may call after 3:00 P.M. Monday at the funeral home where the family will meet with friends from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. Monday. A memorial fund has been established for Wesley Village, MDH Hospice or LaHarpe Senior Citizens.