Tootie Shoemaker

Tootie Shoemaker, 81, of Andrews passed away on Sunday, December 24, 2023 surrounded by her family.

Billy Dolores “Tootie” (Payne) Shoemaker was born August 21,1942 in Sweetwater, Texas to Bill and Erlene Payne.

She was raised on the family farm in Nolan County, until her family moved to Andrews when she was 10 yrs old. She then attended Andrews schools until her graduation in 1960. While in High school, she met her lifelong love, Larry Shoemaker. The two married soon after graduation in 1960. They had two children together, Staci and Brent, and spent 63 wonderful years together.

Tootie taught school in Andrews for many years. She taught at Underwood, Clearfork, Glorieta, and finally at the Middle School. After retirement, she served two terms on the school board.

She had a passion for helping others deal with grief and loss, and taught grief groups in her church and community through the years.

Tootie was a very kind and loving person who enjoyed and genuinely cared about people, and as a result, she enjoyed many great friendships through the years.

She was very passionate and outspoken about her faith, which was very evident and consistent through-out her battle with loss, and her very brave and determined battle with illness. She was an inspiration to her family and friends.

She will be greatly missed by all those whose lives she touched through the years.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Erlene Payne, her father, Bill Payne, and her son Brent Shoemaker.

She is survived by her husband Larry, daughter Staci Kolb(Steve) grandchildren Jase (Ansley), Blake, Kaitlyn (Bryston), Emily, and 8 great grandchildren. Her brother Stan Payne (Rhonda) and nephews Jim (Kristi) and Neil (Serena), and their mom, and her dear friend Janis Payne, brother-inlaw Ronnie Shoemaker (Sherry) and sister-inlaw Sharon Tibbett.