Russell Shoemate

Funeral service for Russell Shoemate, 56, of Cache, Oklahoma will be at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, November 13, 2020 at First Baptist Church of Lawton.

Burial will be at Pecan Cemetery under the direction of Lawton Ritter Gray Funeral Home.

Russell joined his Lord and Savior on Monday, November 9, 2020 in Lawton, Oklahoma after a long and courageous struggle with cancer.  

Viewing will be held on Wednesday, November 11, 2020 from 2:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Thursday, November 12, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. with a special viewing and visitation for family and friends on Thursday, November 12, 2020 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Due to Covid restrictions, masks and social distancing are required at the funeral home and the church.     

Russell was born on February 17, 1964 in Lawton, Oklahoma to Bill and Helen (Russell) Shoemate. He grew up in Clinton and Lawton where he attended school, playing football for Clinton Junior High and Lawton High School. He graduated from Lawton High School in 1982 and attended Cameron University and received his Bachelor's Degree in Communications, being honored with the Communication Student of the Year Award. He then worked for Y-104 Radio Station in Wichita Falls. Russell married Melinda Norrell on May 5, 1990 in Lawton, Oklahoma and shortly after he began his career at Walmart in Anadarko, Oklahoma in 1991 where he worked as the assistant manager. He then transferred to Walmart in Chickasha and later was promoted to co manager at the Duncan Walmart. He and Melinda had their daughter, Kaylee in 1999. Russell continued with Walmart and the family moved to Eastland, Texas in 2006 where Russell was the store manager there for five years before moving to Ardmore, Oklahoma where he became the store manager of the Madill Walmart. In 2015, they moved to Cache, Oklahoma and Russell was assigned the Altus Walmart where he remained the store manager until his passing. Russell was a true christian and a faithful member of the First Baptist Church of Cache, Oklahoma.  
         
He is survived by his wife, Melinda Shoemate, of the home; his daughter, Kaylee Shoemate, of the home; his parents; Bill and Helen Shoemate; his brothers and sister in law, Jay Shoemate and Kevin and Linda Newsom; his mother in law, Dora Norrell; his aunt, Florence Elkins; and his nephew, Christian Shoemate, all of Lawton, Oklahoma; numerous cousins; his best friend, Jamie Cox, of Lubbock, Texas;  and a host of loving friends. 

He is preceded in death by his father in law, Marvin Norrell; and his uncle, Max Elkins.     

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church of Cache, Oklahoma.

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