On Thursday, Sept. 6 we lost a very special part of our family, Jimmy Shumard.  He was a dad, a brother, an uncle, a grandpa, a friend and most of all he was a loving husband. Jimmy was born in Richmond, Calif.. to Jim and Mary Shumard and was the middle child of five siblings.

Jimmy was a veteran of the Vietnam War, which he was very proud of. He loved his country and his fellow veterans. After returning from the war, Jimmy went to work for Emmerson’s mill. He made many friends there over the years and loved the poker games they all played during lunch time in the break room. He would come home with a pocket full of change and an ear-to-ear grin bragging about taking everyone’s money. Jimmy retired from Emmerson’s in 2004, starting the second chapter of his life.

He met the love of his life, Vera, in 1971 and soon after they were married. They made a good life together. Jimmy was always a good provider who worked very hard to give his family a good life. Right up until he took his last breath Vera was by his side.

Jimmy was very proud of his kids and grandkids and very rarely was there a conversation with him that one of them wasn’t the topic. He loved going to all the grandkids’ games, which was another source of bragging rights for him. When his youngest son moved to Wyoming and bought a ranch him and Vera would spend their time going back and forth to Wyoming. He loved watching the branding of the cows and the calves being born. I think that as much as Jimmy loved Wyoming he was always happy to get home where he could be found in his recliner with his blanket, watching westerns, volume blasting. He enjoyed going to bingo, though if you asked him he only went to keep Vera company (ha ha).

Jimmy was also proud of his brothers and sister, whom he loved very much. He got very sentimental in his old age and made it a point to call them or go see them.

The last three years of his life were a struggle, but Jimmy never gave up. So many surgeries and so many times he wasn’t expected to live, but yet he always seemed to push through every medical condition that was thrown his way. His strength and perseverance will forever be remembered.

His family would like to thank all the doctors and nurses who helped Jimmy over the years, and those at St Joseph’s, who treated all of us with such kindness in his final hours. Also a special thank you to Bill Shumard for all the time he spent with Jimmy praying with him and holding his hand, comforting him in the final hours of his life on Earth.

Jimmy is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Vera Shumard; his children, Melissa (Carl) Brim of Longmont, Colo., James (Tammi) Bartley of McKinleyville and Brian (Mindee) Shumard of Cody, Wyo.; his grandchildren Tim Holt, Virginia Kinch, Katie Holt, Jessica Wilson, Billy Bartley,  Ivy Bartley, Mariah Shumard, Haylee Shumard and Jordan Shumard; his sister Deanna (Sam) McKinney and his brother Roy (Barbara) Shumard. Jimmy also leaves behind numerous great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces and friends.

He was proceeded in death by his parents Jim and Mary Shumard, his brothers Lloyd and Pat Shumard and numerous brother- and sister-in-laws.

A memorial is planned for Wednesday, September 12th at 12 p.m. at Paul’s Funeral Chapel in Arcata, with graveside services following in the veteran’s section of Oceanview Cemetery in Eureka, ending with a celebration of life at the Veteran’s Hall on J st. in Arcata.

Pallbearers will be Keith & Larry McKinney, Trent & Troy Shumard, Tim Holt, Billy Bartley, Danny Bartley and Cindy Shumard. Honorary pallbearer is Danny Branco. Services will be officiated by his nephew, Billy Shumard.