Ocal Helen Horton Shumate, 85, of Crab Orchard, passed away Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at Bowers Hospice House. Born June 20, 1926 at Surveyor, WV, she was the daughter of the late William Monroe and Ocal Elizabeth Canaday Shumate.
Helen was a retired teacher for the Raleigh County Board of Education. She was a member of the Crab Orchard Baptist Church where she served as a Sunday school teacher, deaconess and served on many committees. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Richard M. Shumate; grandson, Vaughn Ray York and a brother, Virgil Horton.
Survivors include 4 daughters, Karen Hamilton and husband Mike of Gallagher, WV, Barbara York and husband Vaughn of Shady Spring, Sheila Mann and husband David of Athens, WV, Cheryl Larkins and husband Bob of Roanoke, VA; son, Richard Shumate and wife Robin of Beckley; 7 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren; sisters, Hope Dunlap and Lila Hill of Crab Orchard; brothers, Donald Horton of Eads, TN and Neil Horton of Crab Orchard and a number of nephews and nieces.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 7, 2012 at the Crab Orchard Baptist Church with Pastor Mike Sisson officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens. Friends may visit with the family from
6-8 p.m. Friday at the church.
Helen loved flowers and memorial contributions may also be made to the Crab Orchard Baptist Church, P.O. Box 446, Crab Orchard, WV 25827, Salvation Army, 312 S. Fayette St., Beckley, WV 25801 or the Bluefield Union Mission, 2203 Bluefield Ave, Bluefield, WV 24701.
Pallbearers will be Tim Rector, Bobby Kincaid, Jimmie Canaday, Eddie Harless, Bill Wood and Dean Beckett
Arrangements by Calfee Funeral Home, Beckley.