Susan Ashley Shoemaker

Susan Ashley Shoemaker, age 37, passed away way too soon on March 13, 2024, at St. John's hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Susan was born September 13, 1986, at Jane Phillips' hospital, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, to Linda and Larry Shoemaker. She was the only true "Okie" in the family, as her grandparents, parents, brother, aunts, uncles, and cousins were born in other states. Susan grew up in Bartlesville and attended local schools, graduating from Bartlesville High School in 2005. She attended the University of Oklahoma. All throughout her school years, from elementary to High School, she was active in many activities. Hours were spent in Jazz, Tap, and Ballet. Gymnastics played a big role in her youth years, as well as Girl Scouts, and youth soccer. While in High School, she was both a Junior Varsity and Varsity Pom member and a member of the National Honor Society. Susan was a member of East Cross Church, participating in Youth Group activities, serving as an acolyte, participating in the Christmas play as an angel, and she could hardly wait until she was old enough to work in the Nursery! She also loved babies and kids, and pets, taking on baby-sitting and pet-sitting roles for family and friends. For many years, ever summer was Lake Time with family and friends at Table Rock lake in Missouri. Hours were spent water skiing, playing cards and games, swimming in the lake and the pool, and "hanging out" with brother Brad, cousins, grandparents, parents, and friends. The cousins would often play FRIENDS trivia with her, until they got frustrated as she knew ALL the answers!!
Anyone that knew Susan learned quickly that her first passion was animals. Growing up, she had numerous pets; cats, dogs, hamsters, and gerbils, and even a rabbit. She wanted to become a Veterinarian, making that known ever since the 4th grade. That vision never came to pass, but while in middle and high school she volunteered at Madison Pet Clinic, learning valuable vet-tech skills with "on-the-job" training. While in Norman at OU, she worked for several years at a local vet clinic, until returning to Bartlesville in 2016. Her working career included time employed with area clinics, and most recently, and at the time of her passing, was employed by Oklahoma Veterinary Specialists (OVS) in Tulsa, OK.
Susan was the type of person who thought of others first, sometimes neglecting her own needs to help some else. This was especially true when spending time to rescue a turtle trying to cross a street or to pick up a stray dog or cat that needed help.
As with all of us, she had her own personal issues, struggling with an eating disorder from teen age years and continuing throughout her life. Other issues plagued her as well, but she found strength and support from family, friends, and the counseling community. Her un-yielding devotion to caring for and working with animals was therapy in itself, and, in a large way, kept her moving forward to a better tomorrow.
Susan was preceded in death by both her maternal and paternal grandparents, Mildred and Homer Chaney and Marguerite and Russell Shoemaker; maternal "step grandparents" Lorene and Kenny Swartz; her uncles Mark Chaney and Alan Shoemaker. She is survived by her parents Linda and Larry Shoemaker of Bartlesville, OK., her only sibling, brother Brad Shoemaker and wife Melissa, children Austin Long, Elizabeth Long and Reagan Shoemaker, of Bartlesville, OK., aunt Brenda Cook of Weaubleu, MO., cousins Melani Shoemaker and partner Todd Leader of Kansas City, MO., Christina Wulff and husband John, children Parker and Pierce Deardorff, and Natasha Wulff of Grain Valley, MO., Alana Martin and husband David, daughter Mia of Weaubleu, MO., Jason Shoemaker and partner Jenny McIlory of Kansas City MO., and Amanda Still and husband Coleton of Lee's Summit MO., extended family members and many, many,many friends, both human and four-legged. She leaves all of us with fond memories of the good times, but will forever leave a HUGE hole in our hearts.
In lieu of any flowers, Susan and her family suggest donations to the Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, P.O. Box 3292, Bartlesville, OK. 74006; the benevolence fund at Oklahoma Veterinary Specialists (OVS), 1501 W. 78th Street South, Tulsa, OK., 918-299-4900, (contact Lauren Riley); or the Laureate Eating Disorders Program, 6655 South Yale Ave., Tulsa, OK 74136; or to any veterinary clinic of the donors' choice.