Katherine Shoemake

A life well lived.... Katherine "Marie" Shoemake was a mother, a grandmother, a great grandmother, a wife, a friend, and beloved by all who knew her. She was the ultimate caregiver, who spent her entire life giving herself to her family, her friends, and her community in Center Grove and Jackson County Tennessee; to make others' lives better, happier, and more filled with joy. Although Marie faced her fair share of hardships and struggles, as we all have, she faced them with dignity, grace and compassion. Mom's was a life well lived. Katherine Maire Shoemake was born on July 16, 1931 in Detroit, Michigan to the late Carrie Bean and Luther Pippen. She passed away in her sleep on July 9, 2011 one week shy of her 80th birthday at her daughter's home in Sterling Heights, Michigan surrounded by family. In her 80 years, Marie saw the world change in front of her eyes. Born into the great depression, she was part of what many refer to as the greatest generation, those who turned back tyranny and helped build the greatest, freeist, and most prosperous nation on Earth. Shortly following the end of World War II, Marie married Milbern Shoemake and the two of them raised four children, Merlene, Brenda, David and Cathy. Marie was the consumate mother. While some might say that she sacraficed her dreams and aspirations to care for her children, those who know and love her most undesrtand that her children were her dreams and aspirations. Marie and Milbern celebrated more than 56 years of marriage together, through the ups and downs, they were always toghether, with one another and their growing family until Milbern passed away in April 2002. Marie is survived by her loving family, Merlene and Vincent Coletti of Sterling Heights, Brenda and Gerard Lavigne of Sterling Heights, David and Teresa Shoemake of Gainesboro, Tennessee, and Cathy and Bruce Howell of Gainesboro, Tennessee. Marie has 8 grandchildren, Teddy and his wife Marieanne, Jimmy and his wife Nancy, David and his wife Samantha, Christopher and his wife Meredyth, Jerry, Sherry, Kelly and her husband Ian, and Brandon and his wife Rebecca. Marie has 18 great grandchildren: Brendan, Courtney, Alex, Ryan, Lauren, Madison, Kassie, Lucy, Roman, Ferris, Jessie, Shelby, Mason, Makenzie, Delaney, Katie, Caleb, and Reagan. Marie's 19th great grandchild, Biza, will be born this Wednesday in Dallas. As mother looked out for and cared for us during life, we know she will do the same in death and she joins Milbern and her parents in Jesus's kingdom in Heaven. She will be missed, as she was so very loved. But today we are reminded that death is a natural part of the cycle of life, the end of our time on Earth and the beginning of our time in Heaven. Although the past couple of months were hard for Marie, we are thankful that she is no longer suffering and thankful for the extra time we got to spend with her at her side. We are thankful that she was able to spend her 80th birthday celebration just last week surrounded by all of her family and friends who came to Michigan from across the country to spend one last birthday with her, to push back the hands of time for one more weekend to say, "Marie, we love you." We are thankful for the time we spent together, and thankful for the life lessons she has passed to us all. God gave us 80 good years with Katherine Marie Shoemake, who spent that time caring for others and inspiring us to do the same. If the measure of one's life is the love of family and friends, then Marie's was surely a life well lived as we are surrounded now by the warmth of that love. Mother, we love you. Visitation Monday 3:00pm to 9:00pm with an 8:00pm eulogy service at the Sterling Heights Chapel of the E.J. Mandziuk & Son Funeral Directors, Inc., 3801 18 Mile Rd. (NW corner of Ryan). Interment: Young?s Cemetery, Gainesboro, TN