James Lowry Shoemaker

James Lowry “Jim” Shoemaker- 85 passed away Saturday, June 14, 2025. He was a member of Concord United Methodist Church. Born on December 30, 1939, to Lowry James and Minnie Richards Shoemaker, Jim grew up in Middle Tennessee (Springfield/Cedar Hill).

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Austin Peay, Master's degree from the University of Tennessee, served 2 years in the United States Army and was employed as a research chemist at Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Materials Development Division at the K-25 Plant. He was also a technical author, and along with Roger W. Anderson, received patent awards for their patent application on materials used in the gaseous diffusion process. After initially retiring from K-25, he worked at Materials and Chemistry Laboratory (MCL Inc.) for several years until fully retiring.

Jim was always a huge sports fan. He played baseball and basketball and was a referee officiating for TSSAA football, basketball and baseball in Anderson and Knox counties for almost 40 years. Along with sports, he loved gardening and yard work and maintained an extensive vegetable garden most of his life.

Jim was a wonderful, loving and devoted father and he took great pride in his granddaughter, Lauren Taylor Hicks. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his sister, Rubye Frances Shoemaker (2016). He is survived by son, Jamie Shoemaker (Morgan Fleming), daughter, Allison Shoemaker Hicks (Matthew Simpson).

A celebration honoring Jim's life will be held in the future with details to come later.