Bethany Shumate

1940 - 2025

Bethany Christine Shumate passed peacefully on July 19, 2025. Bethany is survived by her children, Chris Smith, Alison Dyer, as well as her granddaughter, Rebecca Smith, grandsons Wesley, Jonathan Dyer, and great-granddaughters Melaney and Savannah Dyer. Bethany is preceded in death by her parents Charles Woessner and Eleanor Harris, her husband of sixty years, David Larry Shumate, and her grandson, Joshua Leroy Smith. Bethany was born on January 2, 1940, in Fresno where she lived her entire life. She graduated from Roosevelt High School. She was active in the Fresno First Baptist youth group, and it was there she met her husband Larry Shumate. Larry was active in the Fowler First Baptist youth group which would travel to the big town of Fresno to share in youth group activities at Fresno First Baptist Church. Bethany was soon to be captivated by this handsome young man and accepted his proposal of marriage. They were married in the Fresno First Baptist on June 26, 1959. The friends Bethany made in high school as well as Larry's youth group friends and their wives became lifelong friends and very dear to her. Bethany was exceptional at making "girl friends" wherever she went and continuing adding dear friends throughout her life.

Larry and Bethany attended the East Princeton Baptist Church and later Easterby Knox Presbyterian Church. Eventually they became a part of Butler Church. Bethany went back to school in her late thirties and received a Bachelor of Arts in commercial art. She worked briefly designing for the Hume Lake Christian Camp organization. She was an exceptional artist, including winning a Best in Show at the Fresno County Fair. Art was her passion. Bethany could always be found in her art studio, classically paint brush between her teeth, working on a new piece. She never quit learning about art, expanding her art education and trying new and challenging techniques. Bethany also loved teaching, and again in her fifties, went back to school for her teaching credential. She taught kindergarten for ten years until she retired. Bethany also taught art for home-schooled kids and stayed close as those kids became young adults with families of their own.

Bethany was a very talented artist and exceptional at connecting with people, including those that cared for her during her stay at Westmont Assisted Living. Many of those dear caretakers were present with her when Bethany passed. Her widespread family thanks everyone in Fresno for such abiding friendship and love in Bethany's life.

There will be a celebration of Bethany's life at Piazza Del Pane, Friday October third from 11:30 to 2:00. The family requests donations to World Vision, Poverello House or Rescue Mission in lieu of flowers.