Loarn Shuemaker Jr.

CAIRO, Ill. -- Loarn L. Shuemaker Jr., 83, of Cairo died Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

He was the son of Loarn and Josephine Jelinek Shuemaker Sr. He married Betty V. Morse, who preceded him in death.

Shuemaker was a member of Tigert Memorial United Methodist Church in Cairo. He served as chairman and/or board member from 1949 to 2002, and served on various committees.

Survivors include a daughter, Loarna Key of Paducah, Ky.; a sister, Jo Ann Davidson of High Ridge, Mo.; a brother, Ira Shuemaker of Cairo; and two grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a brother, a sister and a half sister.

Shuemaker designed and built an 18-unit motel in Cairo in 1950. He was appointed to Alexander County Housing Authority in 1973 and served five years as chairman. The housing authority high rise building was dedicated in 1986 as the Loarn L Shuemaker Building.

He was appointed to the Cairo Public Utility Board in 1988, and served as chairman since 1998.

He served on the Cairo Custom House Historical Building committee in 1993, and later purchased a train caboose and developed a plaza and fountain for the house.

He purchased an Italian gazebo for Magnolia Manor in 1999, and in 2001 supervised the restoration of Edwin Halliday Home in Cairo.

He was one of the charter members of the Hasting Foundation in 2006 and oversaw the planting of 138 maple trees along Washington Avenue. He was also involved in the planning of Historic Carriage Tour.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to service time Saturday at Tigert Memorial Church.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. at the church. Burial will be in Green Lawn Memorial Gardens at Villa Ridge, Ill.

Barkett Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.