Ruth Shoemaker Burchfield

Nellie Ruth Shoemaker Burchfield, age 79 went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. Born in Scott County, TN on September 22, 1942, she was the daughter of the late Pharo and Mabel (Brewster) Shoemaker.

She was a loving wife, mother, Mem, sister, and friend. She loved going to church when her health would allow, reading her Bible and singing. She joined Concord Separate Baptist Church of Robbins at an early age and served as a Sunday School teacher and loved to help with Bible School. She also attended Mountain View Missionary Baptist Church and Pleasant View Church of the Nazarene in Allardt, TN.

Ruth attended Rugby Road School at Elgin through grade 8 and graduated from Robbins High School in the Class of 1960.

She worked at Robbins Elementary School for 29 years and was lovingly known as “Miss Ruth” to the students. She touched many lives and taught many children to read.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her father and mother-in-law, Esau Burchfield and Cora Patton Burchfield Stonecipher; sisters, Vida Walker, Thelma Shoemaker and Donna Bowling; brothers, Ray (Joann) Shoemaker, Charles (Doris) Shoemaker and Harold (Vonnell) Shoemaker; brothers-in-law, Roy Branim, Junior Crabtree, James Burchfield and Curtis Potter; sisters-in-law, Ruth Sims and Glenis York.

She is survived by her loving husband of 55 years and 10 months, Esau Burchfield, Jr.; daughter and son-in-law, Veronica and Joe Carson; 2 grandsons who were her joy, Andrew and wife Michelle Carson of Cookeville, TN and Aaron Carson and Sierra Stiltner of Robbins, TN; 2 great grandsons, Kameron and Mikah Carson; sisters, Reba Branim of Dayton, OH, Margaret Crabtree of Kokomo, IN and Patty Lynch of Robbins, TN; brothers and sisters-in-law, Wayne and Janet Shoemaker and Marty and Brenda Shoemaker of Robbins, TN; sisters in-law, Janice Potter of Greenfield, IN, Shirley (Don) Perry, Patsy Dixon all of Indianapolis, IN, Judy (Jimmy) Foster of Lenoir City, TN and Imogene Burchfield of Helenwood, TN.  

Also surviving are special friends, Patricia (Pat) and George (Buddy) Hendrickson of Lenoir City, TN, Kay Babcock of Celina, OH, Debbie and Scott Blair of Allardt, TN, Penny Culver, Pam Griffith and Diana Garrett of Robbins, TN and her former co-workers at Robbins Elementary School; caregiver, Mary “Ann” Foster; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Special thanks to Brenda Smith and Quality Hospice, Dr. Tim Smith and staff of Grace Primary Care, Oneida Nursing and Rehab Facility during her stays there and Dr. Jefferson Gillum, nurses Sabrina Goodman and Lauren and 4th Floor staff of Oak Ridge Methodist Medical Center for the excellent care she received.

Friends may visit with the Burchfield family on Tuesday, May 10, 2022 from 5 p.m. until time of Celebration of Life service at 7 p.m. in the chapel of Jones & Son Funeral Home with Bro. Michael Carroll and Bro. Sam Wood officiating. Music will be provided by nephew and niece Brent and Leslie Shoemaker and great niece Grace Shoemaker.

Committal service will be on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at 11 a.m. in the Hawn-Shoemaker Cemetery in Robbins. Pallbearers will be grandsons, Andrew and Aaron Carson, nephews, Brent Shoemaker and Jason Foster, and great nephews, Zach Sexton and Xavier Shoemaker. Honorary pallbearers will be grandsons, Kameron and Mikah Carson, nephews, Alan Shoemaker and Nathan Lynch, and great nephews, Rowdie Lowe and Tyler Gibson.

Jones & Son Funeral Home is serving the family of Nellie Ruth Shoemaker Burchfield.

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