Heather M Shoemaker

Heather Marie (Bumgardner) Shoemaker passed away December 24th, 2011 after a long courageous battle with cancer. While her spirit wanted to be here for Christmas; her body could not make it any longer. Heather was born August 17th, 1972 to Barbara and Gerry Morris in Oak Lawn, Il. Heather moved with Barbara to Denver, Colorado in 1976 where they met and married Tom Bumgardner in July 1977. The family moved to Middleton in April of 1978 where Heather enrolled in the Middleton schools and Tom subsequently adopted her in 1979. She became a “big” sister in 1980 when her sister Kristel was born. As Kristel learned to talk, she called Heather “Hogie”. Heather did many of the usual activities like girl scouts, band, and some sports during her school career but her great love was horses; just like her mom and grandmother. She was a Rodeo Club member during high school and did compete occasionally. Heather joined the Army prior to graduating from high school and headed out to basic training in August of 1990. Her secondary training was for the military police and her first duty assignment was guarding a nuclear missile site in Germany in early 1991. It was here that she met and married Brad Shoemaker (also in the Army) and their first child Stefan David was born in April of 1992. They were transferred back to the U.S. when Stefan was about 6 weeks old and were stationed in Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. Their next duty station was FT. Hood, Texas and that’s where Courtney Jean (1995) and Allyson-Marie Nicole (1997) were born. Heather and the kids returned to the Middleton area in April of 1998 after her marriage ended. She worked at several local restaurants until she started working for the Middleton School District in 2004, where she worked until her health failed. In August of 2005, just after her beloved grandfather passed away she suffered kidney failure and had to start dialysis. She and the family started looking at the possibility of a kidney transplant but that all changed in December of 2005 when further testing showed that she had Multiple Myeloma. We learned that while there were treatments available- there was no cure. Over the last six years; Heather endured many treatments that brought periods of stable health but also many setbacks that had everyone prepared for the worst. Her will to live conquered many of these setbacks. We frequently joked with the medical profession that if something could go wrong with anyone- it would be her luck. She almost always had a smile on her face and an infectious laugh to make everyone laugh as well. The last six months she has resided at Karcher Estates in Nampa; where she and her little dog Sugar entertained the other residents and harassed the staff at all hours of the night. She had been working on handmade gifts for family and friends for Christmas. Heather is survived by her children Stefan, Courtney and Allyson- Marie of Middleton; her mother Barbara Bumgardner of Middleton; her sister Kristel (Montie) Stills of Caldwell; her dad Tom Bumgardner of Caldwell; her grandmother Mary Pillsbury of Caldwell; her grandmother Francis Reichert of Phoenix, Az; her Aunt Ellen Jean Morris of Denver, CO as well as nephews Stone and Ryan Stills and niece Sophie Stills of Caldwell. She has many other aunts, uncles and cousins across the country. She was preceded in death by her grandfather Bill Pillsbury and great- grandmothers Agnes Hyde and Lelah Robinson. The family would like to thank everyone that has helped Heather during this long process; there are too many names to remember but MSTI in Nampa, the Nampa and Caldwell Davita centers, the different hospitals but most of all the staff at Karcher Estates. Heather had been a resident there on two occasions and they are truly wonderful caring staff that loved Heather just like we did! Honey- you take care of Gramps and his favorite fishing hole! Be sure to save us a spots! And we know you are riding across the many paths laughing happily with your hair blowing in the wind! Our love until we see you and hold you in our arms again! The family would like to invite family and friends to a celebration of Heather’s life on Thursday, December 29, 2011, 6:00PM at the Flahiff Funeral Chapel, Caldwell with viewing one hour prior to service. In Lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to a trust fund for Heather’s children at any Syringa Bank location in care of Donna Birch. Condolences for the family may be left at www.flahifffuneralchapel.com. Service Information