Bertis "Gene" Shewmaker

Bertis Eugene Shewmaker, 96, passed away August 9, 2023 in Rolla Missouri at Presbyterian
Manor. Gene, as he wanted to be called, was born in Hardin County, Illinois to Jesse and Elzie
Shewmaker (Joiner). He was one of seven children.
Gene was preceded in death by his wife Doris (Toal), his parents as mentioned above, and his
six siblings: Velma Hogg, Alfred Randall Shewmaker, Arthur Shewmaker, Jesse Nicholas
Shewmaker, Thelma Robertson, and Lora Oveta Daymon; and his daughter Donna Varao. He is
survived by his children, daughters Gloria Brecher (Geoff) and Brenda Smith (Mike), son, Terry
Shewmaker (Sharon), step-daughters Donna Gamache (Toal) and Barbara Ireland (Toal), nieces,
Nan Sampel, Pam Brazier, Ronald Shewmaker, Jeanie Peterson (Hogg), Jay Hogg, Dan
Robertson, Rex Paul Robertson, and his many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and greatgreat-grandchildren.
Gene attended Cave-in-Rock High School in Southern Illinois but dropped out in 1944 and
enlisted into the Navy upon turning 17, the minimum age for enlistment during WWII. After
training at Great Lakes Training Base, he was assigned to the LST-125 Dragon Lady. He
remained onboard that ship for the duration of the war. He received Bronze Stars for the
Okinawa, Leyte, and Luzon campaigns. As a WWII veteran, in 2017 he was selected to be on the
Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. for a tour of the WWII Memorial.
After his service, Gene settled in the St. Louis area and lived many years in Maryland Heights.
He was a member of the local VFW Post 3944, and at one time, served as the Post Secretary.
Gene worked for McDonnell-Douglas and was a proud union member. He retired in 1992 and
continued to enjoy the things that made him and Doris happy. They had horses on their 2.5
acres in Maryland Heights. They went on trail rides in Wyoming and Montana, which both
remembered fondly. Gene had a green thumb and for years maintained a robust garden of
flowers and vegetables. The property also boasted a variety of mature trees that he’d planted
from small cuttings. Gene loved to hunt and fish, both equally. And of course, he was a lifelong
St. Louis Cardinals fan.
Gene desired no funeral or services and has been interred at the Lavender cemetery in Hardin
County, IL with his parents and several siblings. If interested, donations can be made in his
name to the Presbyterian Manor in Rolla, Missouri.