Willie Shumake

Willie Shumake, Age 69, of Corpus Christi passed away on Friday March 1, 2023 after a heroic battle with pancreatic cancer. Up to the very end, Willie kept a positive attitude and never gave up for even a moment.

Willie “Bill” was born on May 15th, 1953 to Robert Parrish Shumake and Alice Lillian Shumake in Corpus Christi, TX. Willie was the youngest of 12 children and therefore was not only the “baby” of the Shumake family, but also felt he needed to be the protector of his mother after his father’s passing.

While attending Tuloso-Midway High School, Willie met the love of his life, Katherine McNabb, and married in 1973. They went on to have 2 children, Shelley Kay and Jeremy Scott Shumake. They bought a house in Calallen near the rest of the McNabb family and created a lovely home.

After graduation, Willie worked for Sun Oil/Koch Refining/Flint Hills for 42 amazing years before retiring. His name still carries a lot of weight inside those gates of FHR. Willie loved to spend his time hunting, fishing, and gardening but he especially loved spending time with his 4 grandchildren, Hallie, Luke, Collin and Hank. Willie was definitely a family man and enjoyed helping others with a wide variety of tasks. He could never say no to a neighbor in need.

Willie was an amazing example of work ethic in combination with intelligence and humility. There was never a job too big or to small for him and he always had a solution to every problem. He was the kind of guy that would drop whatever he was doing to help you out – his wife Kathy can attest to that.

Willie was the kind of guy we should all strive to be like in one way or another. Strong, successful, kind hearted, fun-loving and he just carried himself in a way that attracted others. He was the kind of person that anyone could talk to and he would talk to anyone as well. Willie is part of a dying breed of men that the world could use more of today. He was an all-around amazing guy and he will be sorely missed – not only by his family and close friends, but by his entire community – Willie was one of a kind.

Willie was predeceased by his beautiful daughter Shelley, his parents Robert Parrish and Alice Lillian Shumake, his siblings Gary Shumake, Orpha Chandler, Cloice Good, Rob Shumake, Mona Singletary, Mary Fowler, Celia Peek, Nelda Carroll and Lillian Saucier.

Willie is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Katherine (Kathy) Shumake, his son Jeremy (Michelle) Shumake, his granddaughter Hallie Rutherford and 3 grandsons, Collin, Luke and Henry (Hank) Shumake. He is also survived by a brother Joseph (Butch) Shumake and sister Charlotte Petersen and many nephews, nieces and friends.

Pallbearers: Joel Garcia, Roy Hughes, Frank Pompa, Richard (Butch) Roecker, Jerrell Shumake and Charles Smith.

Honorary Pallbearers: Butch Crisp, Bob Forrest, Steve Jaksik, Mickey Kloth, and Bo McQueen