Class of 2002
Gail "Shoey" Shoemaker
Grand Ledge High School 1951-1955
4-year letter winner in Baseball. 1954: Member of state-wide HS All-Star Baseball Team. 1955: Invite to 3-State Regional tryout for Detroit Tigers.
4-year letter winner in Basketball. All-State: 1953-1954. Member of 19-3 Conference & Regional Championship team in 1954.
Football - 2 letters. All-State: 1953 & 1954.
Cross Country - 1 Letter.
11 Total Varsity Letters.
Obituary: Gail Lee ”Shoey” Shoemaker lifelong Grand Ledge resident passed away November 15, 2020. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend who will be greatly missed by the many lives that he touched. Shoey was born October 19, 1936 in Grand Ledge to the late Donald T. and Velma M. (Morgan) Shoemaker. He attended Grand Ledge High School where he was a talented athlete playing several sports. Gail graduated in the Class of 1955 and was inducted into the Grand Ledge Sports Hall of Fame in 2002. Shoey loved sports and after graduating played fast pitch softball for many years and also coached his daughters’ sports teams. He continued to be a big supporter of Grand Ledge Athletics throughout his life and served the community for many years on the Parks and Recreation Committee. Shoey was also an avid piano player who could play music by ear and he enjoyed performing for his family and friends. Shoey married the love of his life, Marty on April 18, 1964 and they raised three wonderful daughters together. He retired from the USPS in 1998 as a rural mail carrier in Grand Ledge. After Marty’s retirement they both enjoyed a memorable trip to Alaska and wintered in Gulf Shores for 18 years.
He is survived by his loving wife of over 56 years, Marty (Armstrong); daughters, Jennifer (Michael) Malmquist, Nikki Moore and Stephanie (Jeff) Talberg; granddaughters, Amanda (Kyle) Lay, Rachel (Nick) Kissane, Laney Moore, Natalie and Morgan Talberg; great grandsons, Cooper and Elijah Kissane and Benson Lay; brother, Gerald and sister, Gloria (Rich) Tucker. He is predeceased by his sister-in-law, Colleen (Brooks) Shoemaker.