Bethany, MO: Vera May Shoemaker Walter was born on September 25, 1932, and died March 11, 2026, at 93 years old. She was born in rural Harrison County, MO to Roberta Hoyt Shoemaker and Earnie Shoemaker. Her parents divorced when Vera was young. Mother Roberta, sister Lois Shoemaker Smith, and Vera lived in a small house south of Bethany with the help of her Maternal grandmother Maimie and Maimie’s husband Sam Webber. Weekly trips to town to sell cream and eggs with an occasional movie were the routine. Vera attended a rural elementary school and then Bethany high school. She was a bright student graduating early, at age 16, in the same class with her sister, Lois.
Vera had various jobs following high school in Bethany including working as a teller at the Bethany Trust Company Bank, which she loved, also selling tickets at the Noll theater. Working at the bank was Harold (Joe) Walter, her future husband. They were married on May 25, 1952, and had 3 sons, Greg, Chris, and Doug. Raising 3 active boys kept her very busy. She often said Joe would come home and ask, “who went to the emergency room today?” Vera assisted in Joe’s State Farm Insurance office for several years, working until the boys got home from school. Over the years she attended many little league baseball and school football games. She was very active as a Cub scout den mother and Boy Scout supporter with Joe.
She and Joe spent several winters in south Texas after Joe retired where they made many friends. Joe passed away on November 18, 1998. Vera continued in the home in Bethany staying active in the VFW, American Legion and Bethany United Methodist church. She was an avid quilter making several beautiful quilts winning prizes at the Northwest Missouri State Fair. She spent much of her time caring for her mother, Roberta, with daily visits to Crestview nursing home until her mother’s death.
The last few years have been difficult with declining health and Covid 19. Her son Chris assisted her with weekly food drop-offs. Her brother Dan assisted with home repairs and taxi service. She stayed in contact with family members through phone and Face Time calls. In late November 2022 she reluctantly moved into Crestview, a nursing facility in Bethany in a room next to her sister, Lois.
Vera is survived by her three sons, Greg and wife Becky, Chris and wife Andrea and Doug with wife Debbie. She is also survived by her sister, Lois Smith and brother, Dan and wife Karen Robertson of Bethany, a brother Fred and wife Lora Robertson of St Joseph and brother Larry and wife Karen Shoemaker of Sacramento, CA. She was predeceased by one brother, Randy Shoemaker of CA.
Vera had seven grandchildren Kendall Walter Fox, John Spence, Taylor Walter, Spencer Walter, Hattie Walter Steffens, Peter Walter, and Sam Walter. The Great Grandchildren are Makena McCall, Maddox McCall, Lennon Fox, Norah Fox, Frances Steffens, Sebastion Steffens, Tallula Steffens, CJ Walter, Lainey Walter, and Jane Walter.
Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, March 19 at Roberson Funeral Home, Bethany, MO. Burial will follow in Miriam Cemetery, Bethany, MO. The family will receive friends from 1:00-2:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Bethany United Methodist Church and/or the Leukemia Society in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 46, Bethany, MO 64424. Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com.
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