Al Ray Shoemaker

Al Ray Shoemaker of Hartford passed away late Wednesday evening, Aug. 8, 2007, at his residence following an extended illness. He was 65. Funeral services will be Saturday at Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church at 10 a.m. with the Revs. Tommy Cumbic, Charles McGlothren and Bro. Bob Lawton officiating. Burial will follow in the Hartford City Cemetery. The body will be placed in the church one hour prior to service time. The family will receive friends today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, 4844 County Road 41, Hartford, AL 36344; or Compassionate Hands Hospice, 712 Maple Avenue, Geneva, AL 36330. Al was born Feb. 24, 1942, in West Palm Beach, Fla., to the late Curtis and Beatrice Shoemaker and resided in various towns in Florida until moving to Alabama in 1978. He was a welder and pipe fitter for many years, having worked on the construction of Farley Nuclear Plant and later owning Wiregrass Welding. In 1988, Al opened Als BP on Highway 52 East in Hartford, which he owned until his retirement. Al was a member of Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church for many years, where he loved doing work for the church, Als interests included fishing, hunting, gardening and especially working in his greenhouse. Survivors include his wife of 28 years, Sarah Shoemaker of Hartford; two sons, Alan McCullers of Gainesville, Fla., and Daniel Shoemaker of Austin, Texas; two step sons and daughters-in-law, Charlie and Brenda Skinner and Jarvis and Susie Skinner of Hartford; two brothers, Eddie Shoemaker of White, Ga. and Robert Smiley of Jacksonville, Fla.; one sister, Nancy Smiley of St. Augustine, Fla.; several grandchildren, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law also survive. Serving as pallbearers will be Greg Bradley, Trevor Hatfield, Bradley Kinman, Steve Lawton, Mickey Hatfield, John Sellers, Phillip Moody, Jeffrey Hatfield and Charles Sheffield. Shepard Funeral Home in Hartford, (334) 588-2230, is in charge of arrangements.