Arthur Wesley Shewmake, Jr., 89, of Woodlawn, Illinois, passed away peacefully on September 18, 2021, at the Residential Living Center in Mount Vernon, Illinois. He was born September 9, 1932, in Mount Vernon to the late Arthur Wesley and Alice (Miller) Shewmake, Sr. Arthur married Sharon (Kinison) Shewmake on July 19, 1952, in Mount Vernon. They celebrated their 69th year of marriage just before her passing on July 26, 2021.
Arthur is survived by his children, Victoria Higgins and husband, Jim of Decatur, Illinois and Scott Shewmake and wife, Sue of Oxford, Florida; grandchildren, Steven Higgins and wife, Sarah of Florrisant, Missouri, Nathan Higgins and wife, Angie of New Baden, Illinois, Ashley Hilderbrand of Fairfield, Illinois, Jacob Shewmake and wife, Angie of Olney, Illinois, Kayla Starwalt and husband, Roby of Olney, Illinois, and Jace Shewmake of Olney, Illinois; ten great-grandchildren; sisters, Charlotte Moore of Monroe, Michigan and Mary Ellen Allen and husband, Donald of Mattoon, Illinois; sister-in-law, Cathy Bevis and husband, Larry of Fairfield, Illinois; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
In addition to his parents and beloved wife, Arthur was preceded in death by his son, Wesley Keith Shewmake; siblings, Parks Shewmake, and Jackie Young; infant brother-in-law, Larry Dee; and siblings-in-law, Carla Rossio, Morris Kinison, and Rachel Kinison.
Arthur proudly served his country in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. He worked as a carpenter for Salem Gravure and Vernwood Press, and as a supervisor for Electro-Motive, where he built locomotive engines. Arthur was a member of the Masonic lodge, as well as a faithful member of Woodlawn Christian Church, where he served as a deacon. He will be greatly missed here on Earth, but we rejoice knowing Arthur is reunited with the love of his life, Sharon, walking the golden streets of Heaven.
A Visitation will be held Thursday, September 23, 2021, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Hughey Funeral Home in Mount Vernon. A Funeral Service will be held Friday, September 24, 2021, at 10:00 am at Woodlawn Christian Church in Woodlawn with Mr. Doug Junkins and Mr. Tracy Thomas officiating. Interment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Mount Vernon. The American Legion Post #141 will conduct full military honors at the cemetery. Memorials may be made in Arthur’s honor to the Woodlawn Christian Church or Woodlawn Veterans Memorial.
Call Hughey Funeral Home at 618-242-3348 or visit hugheyfh.com for further information.
