Billy L. Shoemaker

Billy Lawrence Shoemaker, age 88, of Elgin, TN passed away on Thursday, May 21,

2026, at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, TN. He was born in

Elgin, TN on August 8, 1937, the son of the late Lawrence and Carmen (Pemberton)

Shoemaker.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by wife Dorothy (Danbury)

Shoemaker, daughter Deborah Ann Gunter, brother Jimmy Shoemaker, and sisters-in-

law Martha Shoemaker and Shirley Shoemaker.

He is survived by his daughter Karen Starr (David); grandson, who was like a son,

Kaleb Gunter; brother Barney Shoemaker; sister Ruby Jean Shoemaker; aunts Juanell

Wartena and Wanda McNeely; grandsons Jeremy Lawrence Shoemaker (Loretta) and

S. Jordan Phillips; niece and nephews Kim Shoemaker, Eddie Shoemaker, and Anthony

Shoemaker; and great grandchildren Lyla Shoemaker and Jake Shoemaker.

Billy was born and raised in Elgin, Tennessee. With goals and an adventurous spirit,

after graduating high school he started his career as a welder for Caterpillar Tractor

Company in Joliet, Illinois. At age 47, he retired from Caterpillar and came back home to

Elgin where he became school bus driver for Scott County Schools for several years

and later drove those with cancer to their appointments. With a love for his community,

he was involved in the development of the Elgin Community Center. In his younger

years, Billy loved to travel with his family and visited places from Boot Hill to

Yellowstone to the Tetons to the Grand Canyon to Disney World to the Atlantic Ocean

and many places in between. He enjoyed fishing, boating, camping, bowling, watching

sports, reading the newspaper daily, and debating different topics with others, as well as

visiting with family, friends, and strangers. But, most of all, he loved and cared for his

family.

For those who loved him as well as those who enjoyed visiting, talking, and fussing with

him, he will be greatly missed.

Friends may visit with the Shoemaker family on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, from 4 p.m.

until time of the funeral service at 6 p.m. in the chapel of West-Murley Funeral Home.

Committal service will follow in the Carson Memorial Park in Oneida.

West-Murley Funeral Home is serving the family of Billy L. Shoemaker.

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