June 18, 1940-May 10, 2025
Funeral Services for Wayne Shumaker, 84 of Jefferson, Texas will be held on Friday, May 16, 2025, at 2:00pm in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Jefferson, Texas with Bro. Craig Evers officiating and under the direction of Haggard Funeral Home. Interment will immediately follow at Oakwood Memorial Park Cemetery in Jefferson, Texas. A time of visitation will be held on Thursday, May 15, 2025, in the Cpt. Wm. Perry Chapel of Haggard Funeral Home from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.
Mitchell Wayne Shumaker was born on June 18,1940 to Kenneth and Lillian Shumaker in Mooresville, NC. He was sent to his eternal home on May 10, 2025, from his favorite state of Texas. He was affectionately known as Wayne to his friends and family. Preceded in death by his father, mother and brother, he is survived by his loving wife, Toby Shumaker, Three daughters Shannon Shumaker-Kuhn (Tony Kuhn), Stacy Shumaker-Ham (Robert Ham), and Vicki Akin (James Akin). Several grandchildren including Trevor “Stick” Parker (Alexis), Justin “Thumper” Parker (Chason), Serena “Dirtbag” Parker, Riley Ham, Kaylea Ham, Donna (Nicholas) Smith, Patrick (Crystal) Schumann and Rodney Morris. His great grandchildren include Knox Wayne Parker, Emily, Athena, Chesney, Lola, and Blaze.
From humble beginnings, living on a farm with his grandparents and parents, he experienced a love for animals and a creative aspect to make something from nothing. A go cart was built from scraps to give his brother and sister a ride down a hill that ended in laughter and broken wood to which he got a good spanking for! After graduation he entered the Navy and spent his days on the USS Forrestal as an aircraft carrier flight crew sailing foreign and domestic waters. That bond with the sea never left him. Even in his final days, he spoke fondly of the travels he had been on with the navy and with his wife. When he left the navy, it was then he made his way to southern California where he met his soon to be bride. They fell in love and began riding horses together while creating a beautiful life over the next 59 years.
During that time, he became involved in the Masonic Lodge and eventually held the prestigious 32nd degree Master Mason title. He was routinely involved in the Shriners and made large donations to their children’s hospitals. He worked at Chevron for over 20 years and retired at age 46. He started as a roustabout but ended his career as a supervisor for their lower leases. They jokingly gave him a statue of his finger at his retirement party as a reminder that all he did was point to get something done. As a hard-working father and husband, list goes on and on with a multitude of achievements.
Before moving to Texas, He was always in a boat on the Colorado river spending his days with his family and loving every minute of his second home. Upon a visit to close friends in Texas, he fell in love with the lake to which he resided since 1988 in the family home. The rest of his family gravitated with the arrival of his daughter who moved right new door. He was ecstatic. The completion of his family was all he ever wanted.
He was a talented guitar picker, a diver, and the commander of the Shreveport Power Squadron. The life he lived, is reflected in his children, for they wanted nothing more than to be “daddy’s girls” and he gave them and his wife everything.
He attended CSU Fullerton, Cal State Long Beach, and eventually received his degree concurrently from OCC and Golden West College. He was a self-taught master mechanic who had forgotten more than most people knew. Associations include American Petroleum institute, USS Forrestal Association, Sharon Shrine Temple, and the Masonic Lodge of Jefferson where he received his 50-year pin.