August 14, 1939 – May 3, 2017
BUXTON- Sara Ethelbert Burrus Shoemaker, 77, of Buxton, NC passed away onTuesday, May 2, 2017, at Spring Arbor of The Outer Banks in Kill DevilHills, North Carolina. Her unwavering faith in God and the love andprayers of family, friends and church family carried her through thelast few years in her battle with Alzheimer’s.
Bornin Hatteras, NC on August 14, 1939, she was the daughter of the lateMaurice Lennon Burrus, owner of Burrus Oil Company, and Rebecca StevensBurrus of Hatteras Village, NC. Sara attended the HatterasVillage School and would graduate from the Hatteras Island ConsolidatedSchool in Buxton, NC. Though always modest and somewhat shy, Sarawas one of the young island beauties who was photographed by HughMorton in the 1950’s and graced postcards and promotional brochures ofthe new Cape Hatteras National Seashore for many years after.
Shefollowed in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother, Emma GilbertStevens, and attended Chowan College in Murfreesboro, NC. Duringthis time, on a visit home from college, she met and would eventuallymarry her husband, William “Bill” Shoemaker, a young CoastGuardsman. They were married for 59 years.
Saraand her husband decided to make the Coast Guard a career and togetherthey raised their two children before retiring to Buxton. One ofher favorite duty stations was St. Croix Light Station, a semi-isolatedisland where her love of music was rekindled. Frequent partieswith music and dancing were attended by many! She was also anavid gardener and was known for her green thumb in theneighborhood. She was always making sure the tree or garden sheplanted was in the perfect position. If she decided, aftersomething was planted, it wasn’t in the “right” spot she would dig itup and move it to another spot!
Herlove of family history was instilled by her parents over Sunday dinnersand during great storms or hurricanes where most notably her fatherwould tell sea stories of family members; great-grandfather, BatemanWilliams was a Lighthouse Keeper at Cape Hatteras Lighthouse,grandfather, Ethelbert D. Burrus was also a Lighthouse Keeper and latera sea captain of a supply ship. And of course, her father wouldtalk about his days playing baseball in the major leagues. Hermother would not be outdone, being a descendent of the Daughters of theRevolution and the Confederacy. Sara would never forget thesharing during these times and the outpouring of love.
Alongwith her husband, Bill, Sara is survived by a daughter, DeborahShoemaker Blackmon and husband Doug; and a son, William “Bud”Shoemaker, Jr. and wife Marcie all of Buxton, NC. Her lovinggrandchildren are Matthew Nuckles and Zebediah, Rubie, and GraceShoemaker. She is also survived by her sisters, Dixie BurrusBrowing and Mary Burrus Williams and their families. Sara waspreceded in death by her parents and a brother, Gilbert Stevens Burrus.
Amemorial service will be held at Lighthouse Assembly of God in Buxton,NC on Thursday, May 11, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, thefamily would appreciate donations to the Hatteras Island Food Pantryc/o Cape Hatteras United Methodist Men, PO Box 1591, Buxton, NC, 27920.
Twiford Funeral Home, Hatteras is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed at www.TwifordFH.com.
