Mabel Homesley Shumate

Mabel Homesley Shumate, age 92, passed away Oct. 10, 2013. She was born Oct. 10, 1921, in Durham, Ark., to Lee Roy "Pat" and Cassie Homesley. She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Belle Gabbard; and her husband, Howard. She graduated from Elkins High School where she was a member of the championship girl's basketball team. Basketball remained one of her favorite things throughout her life. She graduated from the Fayetteville Business School and was a lifelong resident of the Elkins-Durham area except for 1942-1944 when she lived in Houston, Texas, and worked in the shipyards during World War II. She married William Howard Shumate on June 9, 1946, and they became the proud parents of three sons. She worked on the family farm while he was a postal carrier in Fayetteville. She was a member of the Elkins Church of Christ for 60-plus years. She was a living testament to her faith. She was a leader of the White River 4-H Club and a charter member of the White River EPA group and worked tirelessly to help defeat the landfill on Hobbs Mountain. She participated in trash pick-ups along Highway 16 East and helped man the recycling trailer at Elkins well up into her later years. She was an avid sports fan and loved her Arkansas Razorbacks. She was a faithful supporter of the Elkins Elks teams and attended many games. She showed the referees no mercy when she did not agree with their calls. She loved driving out into the pasture to check the cattle and continued to do so until just a few years ago. She had strong political views and enjoyed debating with anyone who was brave enough to take her on. She was a domino shark and each kid and most of her grandkids have been thoroughly trounced by her. She is survived by three sons, Allen (Donna) of Elkins, Ark., Darrell (Sandy) of Mineola, Texas, and Ed (Jan) of Elkins, Ark.; seven grandchildren, Jennifer Walker (Jamie) of Butler, Pa., Brian Shumate (Stephanie) of Elkins, Ark., Melissa Douglas (Robert) of Oklahoma City, Okla., Allison Shumate (Micah) of Oklahoma City, Okla., Sara Shumate of Tulsa, Okla., Brooke DeLucci of Elkins, Ark., and Courtney Shumate of Elkins, Ark.; six great-grandchildren, Gavin Shadrick of Russellville, Ark., Grant Shadrick of Bella Vista, Ark., Caleb Shumate, Trevor Shumate and Braden Shumate, all of Elkins, Ark., and Zayne Walker of Butler, Pa.; three step-great-grandchildren, Angel (Tyler) Morris of California, Jay Walker of Arkadelphia, Ark., and Ben Napier of Elkins; and one step-great-great-grandchild arriving in 2014; two nephews, Glen and Norman Gabbard; and one niece, Carolyn Norman; numerous great-nieces and nephews. She is also survived by very special friends, Jim and Betsy Martin, who gave generously of their time and love to her, and Geneva Long who spent many hours with her on the phone and loved her dearly, as well as many other friends and neighbors. All of us want to thank our Jan for her devotion to caring for her and putting her own life on hold, we could not have done it without you. Always know that she loved you dearly even when she was giving you a hard time. The family also wishes to thank the wonderful people from Washington Regional Hospice who made it possible for her to remain in her home until she left us on her birthday. Visitation will be held 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013, at Moore's Chapel. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at the Elkins Church of Christ, with Lacy Randall officiating. Memorials may be made to Gospel Tracts International, 4377 Huntsville Road, Fayetteville, AR 72701; or Shumate Cemetery, c/o Charles Brink, 19287 Feather Hill Road, Elkins, AR 72727. To sign the online guest book, visit www.mooresfuneralchapel.com.