Obituary of Juanita G. Shomaker
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Mrs. Juanita Inez Glenn Shomaker, 92, of Banner Elk, NC passed away on Friday, September 14, at Life Care Center of Banner Elk. Born on June 24, 1920, in Watauga County, she was the youngest daughter of Conley and Bessie Osborne Glenn.
After completion of Business College in Richmond, VA, Juanita returned to the mountains of North Carolina and, after her marriage in 1941, settled in Banner Elk where Lee�s family had lived for four generations.
Juanita loved the business world and was a pioneer in the professional life of women in her early days. She began work at Grace Hartley Memorial Hospital, later renamed Charles A. Cannon, Jr. Memorial Hospital. This was the beginning of a long and much loved career in healthcare. She retired from her job as administrator of Cannon Memorial Hospital in 1986 after 44 years of service. After her retirement, she returned to the hospital and started the small hospital gift shop; from 1986 until 2002, she worked each day in the hospital gift shop.
In 1986 Juanita was honored with lifetime membership in North Carolina Hospital Association for �distinguished service rendered in the field of hospital administration.� She served in many professional organizations during her career. In 2011, she was honored by Avery County as a citizen of the century, for her outstanding contributions to the people of Avery County. In 2012, Juanita was inducted into the first Martha Guy Hall of Legends for her contributions in the medical field.
Juanita always expressed her love for learning anything new. She was devoted to her study of the Bible and was a member of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school for many years, worked with you, and served on many committees. She quietly treasured her faith.
Juanita is survived by a daughter, Jackie and husband Buster Burleson of Banner Elk.; by two grandchildren: Michelle Aldridge of Parkville, MD, and Brad Burleson and wife Kathryn of Fairview, NC. She was also blessed with five great-great grandchildren: Holden Glenn Burleson, Riley Aldridge, Payton Aldridge, Bailey Aldridge and Reagan Aldridge. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Lee J. Shomaker; a sister, Ruby Greene and a brother Cecil Glenn.
A �Celebration of Life� will be held at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church on Saturday, September 22, 2012, at 10:00 AM officiated by Rev. George Wright. Immediately following, the family will receive friends in the Fellowship Hall. Interment of ashes will be a private time for family in the Mt. Calvary Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate memorials to Mt. Calvary Baptist Church for church renovations or to the New Opportunity School for Women at Lees McRae College, PO Box 128, Banner Elk, NC, which has a mission to improve the personal and educational circumstances of low-income Appalachian women.