Larry Shumaker, a longtime Austin resident, went to be with his Lord and Savior on September 20, 2021. Larry was born on August 23, 1942, in Hornersville, MO. He loved his family, God and country. He accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior and was a member of Cedar Valley Baptist Church. One of his many accomplishments was documenting his life story into a book, My World was Falling Apart and Then..
Larry proudly served in the US Army and was a member of the 101st Airborne, served on a Marksman team and served in Vietnam. Upon leaving the military in 1967, Larry and his family settled in North Austin, where he started Shumaker Landscaping with his wife Nellowen. They started the company with very little and worked long hard days. Within a couple of years, he purchased his first of many dirt pits and began hauling and selling dirt in Austin. In the early 70’s the family relocated to Del Valle and grew the company into a fleet of trucks and excavation equipment to prepare construction sites for the housing industry.
In the early 1980’s, when Larry purchased a new dirt pit site, he discovered that it not only had the loam he was looking for, it also had sand & gravel. With that surprise finding, he started a sand and gravel company which eventually became the core business. For over 50 years, Shumaker Enterprises was a mainstay in the material and trucking business in Austin. Many friendships and relationships were developed over that time period. Larry will be missed by all that knew him. He believed in working hard and setting lofty goals. He was so proud of his children and grandchildren’s successes and achievements.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Nellowen Shumaker; daughter, Loretta (Lori) Shumaker; parents, Archie Shumaker & Irene Crum; siblings, Glenda Gaylyean, Wanda Love and Sharon Ellis; and granddaughter Rebecca Shumaker.
Larry is survived by his brother Bud & Susie Shumaker of Little Rock Arkansas; son Wade & Carolyn Shumaker of Austin, TX; daughters LaRonna & Curtis Bradford of Bastrop, Joanna & David Bauser of Manor. Grandchildren, Brandon & Christine Brown, Malorie & Vincent Eddings, Caitlyn & Steven Voelker, Jacquilyn & Nick Robbins, Nicole & Robert Cagwin, Megan & Chris Roark, Kelsey & Cole Bolton; Step-Grandson Clint & Clair Bradford and David Bauser II; and 12 great grandchildren.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldenforestoaks.com for the Shumaker family.
