Jacqueline Holst Shoemaker, who lived most of her life in Fort Myers, died Saturday, November 6, 2021 at the age of 97. Jacqueline was born on April 9, 1924, in Americus, Georgia, to Mary Elza Holst and John George Holst, Sr. She moved with her parents to Fort Myers as a young child. Jacqueline went to Edison Park Elementary and Fort Myers Senior High School. She always excelled as a student and was a leader among her classmates.
Jacqueline married John W. Shoemaker on September 30, 1945, at St. Luke’s Church. They were married 61 years when John passed away in 2007. After their marriage, John and Jacqueline moved to Normal, Oklahoma. After John’s graduation, they settled for a time in Abilene, Texas, where their only child, John Kyle Shoemaker, was born. Jacqueline was a very devoted mother to “Kyle”. The family moved to Shreveport, Louisiana where Jacqueline worked in the television industry. The family returned to Fort Myers and their extended family in 1965. Jacqueline worked in the office of the Clerk of Courts from 1966 to 1989, when she retired. One of Jacqueline’s lifelong goals was to graduate college, which she accomplished with honors and a 3.74 GPA in 2000, graduating from FGCU at the age of 76. At that time she held the distinction as the oldest graduate of FGCU.
Jacqueline was a member of many noteworthy organizations, including several Garden Clubs, including judging on a national level, Women’s Community Club, Pioneer Club, Edison Pageant of Light Lamplighters, Southwest Florida Historical Society, Calusa Nature Center, and Royal Palm Yacht Club. Jacqueline was an avid bridge player. Jacqueline was a member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, where she was a member of the Altar Guild for many years. Jacqueline and John thoroughly enjoyed traveling and were able to travel to all the countries on their bucket list. When they returned, Jacqueline loved putting pictures and notes about the places they visited in detailed scrapbooks that made their journeys come alive again.
Jacqueline is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, John Kyle Shoemaker and Carolyn L. Shoemaker, four grandchildren and their spouses, John Matthew and Carrie Shoemaker of Ft. Myers, Marilla Shoemaker and Nicholas Alberto of Ft. Myers, Meghan and Jonas Halley of Lincoln, RI, and Mackenzie and Adam Friedman of Royal Oak, MI and three great-grandsons, John Calder Shoemaker, Henry Wilder Friedman and Idris Munro Halley. She is survived by nephews, John Kenneth Willis (Jane), Garry Willis (Yuki) and predeceased by niece and husband, Diane Geater (Jim), and also survived by nieces Louetta Mueller (Gary) and Mamie Holst, as well as great nephews and nieces and her cousin, Beth Alderman. She was predeceased by her sister and brother-in-law, Mary Elza and Kenneth Willis, and her brother and sister-in-law, John George Holst, Jr. and Louetta Holst, as well as several cousins. Her family will always remember her as a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
The family will receive family and friends from 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, November 9, 2021, at Harvey-Englehardt Funeral Home on Colonial Boulevard. A funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 10, 2021, with Fr. Michael Rowe officiating. Burial will follow at Fort Myers Memorial Gardens.
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