Burl Palmer Shoemake, age 95, and Bernita June (Chambers) Shoemake, age 93, of Turner, Ore-gon passed away on Saturday, August 27, 2016.
Burl was born in Vader, Washington on May 1, 1921 to William Perry Shoemake and Leah Fae (Armstrong) Shoemake.
Burl attended Benson Tech High School in Portland then joined the U.S. Navy in 1940 where he served for six years. After his service, Burl entered San Jose Bible College where he received a Bachelor of Sacred Literature Degree. Later in life, he also earned a Master of Science Degree in Counseling from Fort Hays Kansas State College and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Marriage and Family Counseling from Toledo Bible College and Seminary in Indiana.
Burl enjoyed printing and used his hobby and later, business, to augment his work as a minister. He also helped print newsletters and materials for many churches and Christian organizations both here and abroad.
An avid photographer, Burl provided the family with many printed memories of their early years.
Bernita was born in Brookings, S.D. on June 18, 1923 to George Lewis Chambers and Muriel Emily (Felton) Chambers.
Bernita graduated from Brookings High School and married her high school sweetheart Donald S. Morrison on Nov. 15, 1941.
To that union was born a daughter, Donita Rae Morrison. Although Don only saw his daughter on one occasion because of his service in the Air Force during World War II. Don was killed in action over Austria on March 3, 1944.
Heartbroken and looking for healing, Bernita joined her brother Earl in attending San Jose Bible College in San Jose, Calif. It was there that Bernita met Burl and they were married on June 2, 1947 in the San Jose Bible College chapel.
Burl began as a minister for the Church of Christ after graduating from San Jose Bible College, and he and Bernita, and eventually the whole family, traveled and served many churches through the years.
Some of the churches where they served together were churches in Sutter, Morro Bay, Sebastopol and Sonoma in California; Toledo, Siletz and McDowell Creek in Oregon; and Colorado Springs, Colo. The family also served as missionaries in Nassau, in the Bahamas.
Burl was a family counselor and served in addition to his private practice with Cookson Hills Christian Ministry in Kansas, Okla.; Boise Children’s Ranch in Boise, Idaho, and with the Garden Way Church in Eugene.
Burl and Bernita eventually settled back in the Northwest and spent most of their retirement years in Oregon in the Turner Christian Retirement community, where they had many friends.
In Burl’s later years he suffered from Alzheimer’s and was afforded exceptional love and care at the Tierra Rose Senior Living Community in Salem.
Bernita was a gifted singer and used her gift from an early age to bring praise to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to bless those who heard her. Over the years, she sang in many trios and quartets in churches and camps all across the country.
Bernita loved antiques and, out of the overflow of her collection, became the owner of Heirloom Antiques, buying and selling antiques to help support the family.
Bernita loved the Word of God and shared it with others on every occasion. Bernita loved to write, using rhyme and sometimes riddle. She wrote of the past and the future, sending cards, letters and text messages to family and friends.
The U.S. Postal Service will suffer a drop in sales, but the notes of wisdom and humor will remain to guide, and make us chuckle.
In the end here on the earth, and in memorable fashion, Bernita used her “Final Destination” ticket just eight hours before Burl, her husband of 69 years. It was her desire that we all accept the invitation of Jesus who has the power to provide our ticket to the same “Final Destination.”
Like Burl, Bernita in her last days on earth also received excellent care and attention through the caring administration and staff at Turner Retirement Homes.
Together, Burl and Bernita raised six children: Donita (Morrison) James Troglio, of Sutter Creek, Calif., deceased Oct. 15, 2011, (daughter Wendy James); Bud Shoemake, of Logsden (wife Marianne, children Sasha and Preah); Perry Shoemake, of Morro Bay, Calif. (wife Jessica); Doylanne Wade, of Wasilla, Alaska (husband Eric, children Jack, James, Jed and Jake); Monte Shoemake, of Webb City, Mo. (wife Shawn, children Ryan, Brittany and Caleb); and Naomi Leach, of Colcord, Okla. (children Nichole, Jesse, Tyler and Joseph).
They are survived by five children, 13 grandchildren (named above), and on great-grandchild, along with a host of other family and friends.
A memorial service will be held at the dining hall at Turner Retirement Homes in Turner, Oregon on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016 at 2:30 p.m.
Bernita requested that flowers for the memorial service be from your yard or the beautiful Ore-gon fall foliage.
Also, any donations in their memory may be given to the Sudan African Mission and/or Turner Retirement Homes.