Barbara Shoemaker

Barbara Brown Shoemaker passed away on July 2, 2026, at the age of 99. She was born in Flint, MI on August 25, 1926, to Joseph and Gertrude Cook. Later the family moved to Cheboygan, MI, where her father owned a bakery. She enjoyed helping out there and being involved with her school plays. After graduation, she went to airline school and worked as a teletype operator. She married Bob Brown in 1947. They moved to Plainwell, MI where they raised their five children. She later worked as a dental assistant in Plainwell for many years. Barb later married Jack Shoemaker, and together shared many travels together to such places as Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Barb is survived by her daughter Patti (Denny) Keith, sons Jim (Nanette) Brown and Steve (Janet) Brown, son-in -laws Jim Sanford and Earl Atkins, sisters Betty Meyers and Mary Jo Collins, grandchildren Brian, Lori, Kelly, Jay, April, Aaron, and Scott, many great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

Barb was preceded in death by her husband, Jack, twin daughters Sandra Brown and Barbara Sanford, daughter Kathy Atkins, grandsons Chad Atkins and Mark Brown, sister Eileen Massey, and brothers Don and Jerry Cook.

She attended St. Margaret’s Catholic Church in Otsego, MI, and will be buried at the Hillside Cemetery in Plainwell. A private family funeral will take place at a later date.