In Memoriam

A descendant of Pilgrims John Alden, William Brewster and Stephen Hopkins, he joined the Nebraska Society in 1955. His two daughters and four grandchildren are members of the Nebraska Society.

From the North Platte Telegraph, Jan. 11, 2009:

E.H. “Shoey” Shoemaker Jr, 93, of North Platte, died Jan. 9, 2009, at his home. He was born on Sept. 5, 1915, in Jamaica, N.Y., to Emanuel Hey Sr. and Pauline Peacock Shoemaker. Shoey graduated from Scarsdale New York High School in 1933.

A year later he entered the U.S. Army. After his discharge he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business where he was a second-generation member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon (DKE) Fraternity. After graduation, he entered into the insurance business in Chicago. This is where he met and later married Marie McFerren on June 14, 1941.

The couple moved to Milwaukee, Wis., with Shoey’s insurance company. Marie’s father soon asked him to run the Mildale Ranch, north of North Platte, feeling his business experience would be valuable to the operation. The ranch is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. Shoey still had a hand in the operation of the ranch to his last days.

In addition to his ranching duties, Shoey took an active part in his local community. He was a member of the Episcopal Church of our Savior, having served on the Vestry and as Senior Warden; he was a lifetime member of the NE Cattlemen’s Association, being named Cattleman of the Year in 1993; a member of the NE Chamber of Commerce, named Businessman of the Year in 2005; past president of the North Platte Chamber of Commerce; was inducted into 2002 into the Cattleman’s Hall of Fame; was an original member of the Board of Trustees for the Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center; an original board of directors member of North Platte National Bank; past member of the City Planning Commission; Past Chairman of the Memorial Hospital Board; was a member of the North Platte School Board; was the past president of the NE Stockgrowers Association; and was head of the tax committee for the National Cattleman’s Association. He was instrumental in working with others to establish banking and insurance operations in North Platte, and was an active and enthusiastic spokesman for the ranching and beef industry.

Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Marie, of North Platte; two daughters, Sandra (Eric) Hornbacher of Winter Park, Fla., and Diane (Tom) Loughery of Satellite Beach, Fla.; a sister, Joan (John “Beef”) Meader of Morristown, N.J.; four grandchildren, Tyler (Karen) Carraway of Denver, Jennifer Carraway of Maitland, Fla., Shaun Loughery of North Platte, and Brandon Loughery of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; a great-grandchild, Sophia Marie Carraway of Denver; several nieces and nephews, including M.L. (Rick) Martin of North Platte, Stewart (Kathy) Allen of North Platte; and great nieces and nephews, Mark Allen, Matt (Audra) Allen and Charlie Martin. Preceding him in death were his parents and a sister, Pauline Reeder.

Memorials may be given to the Nebraska Cattleman’s Association Scholarship Fund or the Sandhills Cattleman Association Scholarship Fund. Online condolences can be made at http://www.adamsswanson.com/. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009, at the Episcopal Church of our Savior with the Rev. Elle Thoeber officiating. A reception with the family will be afterwards at the church. A private family burial will take place at North Platte Cemetery prior to the service with military honors.