Cody Shoemaker

Cody A. Shoemaker was a young man with big heart and vibrant spirit. He was outgoing and funny, much to the amusement of those around him. He played hard and worked even harder. Talented and adventuresome, he found joy in such down-to-earth pleasures as outdoor sports, music and the love of family and friends.

Cody was born the third child of Randy and Kathy (Smith) Shoemaker on July 29, 1986 in Kalamazoo, Michigan,. The decade had begun with the release of 52 American hostages from captivity in Iran and the swearing-in of the nation’s first female Supreme Court Justice. It concluded with protests in Germany that brought down the Berlin Wall and thousands of students occupying China’s Tiananmen Square, calling for democracy.

In the small town of Orangeville where Cody grew up, his father worked as a builder and his mother was employed with Kmart stores. In a household with siblings Jim and Dana and his half-sisters, Caycee and Clerissa, Cody’s childhood included many outdoor activities. He loved climbing trees, riding bike, skateboarding and rollerblading—really, any “danger on wheels.” During his high school years, he played football and golf, though not on a team. He was in the cast of a few school plays, he played drums with a group of friends and showed real talent in art. Cody was great at drawing but never pursued it serious. He would rather climb a tree than draw it.

Upon graduating from Delton-Kellogg High School in 2004, Cody moved to Northern Chicago, and his step brother Jeff got him a job with a tree company. A few years later, he transferred to Grand Rapids, Michigan and went to work for Barttlet Tree Company for several more years. He then took a job in Portland, Oregon for just two weeks before returning to Michigan and making his home in East Lansing. His latest job was at Ellis Arbor in East Lansing until 2012. Though he had moved around a lot in his young life, in recent years Cody was glad to be close to family.

Family and friends enjoyed being close to Cody as well. He had a great personality and liked to make people laugh. He was fun to be around, and some of his quirks were equally endearing. For example, he was constantly drinking water and always had an electric fan blowing on him. Everyone knew to never get between Cody and his fan or be prepared to be physically moved by him.

Along with outdoor recreation, like bicycling and disc golf, Cody’s indoor activities included watching TV programs such as Breaking Bad, Dexter and Pawn Stars, listening to all types of music and messing with his aptly named cat, Trouble. He feasted on such favorite foods as pizza, hamburgers, Chinese food and take-out from Jimmy Johns. Cody’s life included good friends and none more important than the young woman who would become his best and lifelong friend.

In the spring of 2010 when Cody met Stephanie Shea, it was anything but love at first sight. She didn’t really like him. Truth be told, she thought he was a jerk. Still, being co-workers at the local Subway they worked together often. For all his joking around, Cody took work seriously. Slowly on, Stephanie’s first impressions changed and the two of them started dating after a few months. From then on, they were together through thick and thin.

In April 2012, Cody became sick, and in August of that same year, he was diagnosed with cancer. Weeks later, he underwent surgery on September 5 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. After a nine day stay in hospital, he went home to East Lansing. He passed away at home on Monday, September 2, 2013 after a one year battle with cancer. He was 27 years old.

Cody Shoemaker will be sorely missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew him as a beloved son, brother, grandson, cousin, uncle and cherished friend.

A memorial service for Cody will be held on September 28 at 11:00 a.m. at the Orangeville township hall: 7350 Lindsey Rd. Cody’s family includes his parents Randy (Carol Newton) Shoemaker and Kathy (Ed) Francis; his siblings: Jim (Lisa Verburg) Shoemaker, Dana Shoemaker, Caycee Francis, Clerissa Francis; two step brothers: Jeff Eckert and Jason Eckert; as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews and his best friend Stephanie Shea. Please visit Cody’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can read his life story, archive a memory or photo and sign his memory book online. Memorial contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society.