In Loving Memory Of

Joseph Davenport Shumate

Joseph Davenport Shumate, of Pauls Valley was born August 23, 1914 in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma to C. A. and Margaret Matthews Shumate. He passed away February 18, 2005 at Pauls Valley, Oklahoma at the age of 90 years.

Joseph attended grade school at Jefferson in Pauls Valley. He graduated from Pauls Valley High School as Salutatorian. Attended the University of Oklahoma where he received a B. A. in Political Science and then his Juris Doctor of Law.

He was admitted to the bar in 1938 and began practicing law in Pauls Valley. In 1961 he was admitted to practice before the U. S. Supreme Court.

He was married to Anna Lee Moore, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Harry K. Moore, on May 4, 1941. Called into military service as a 1st Lt. In December 1940 and served for five years. He was released from active duty in January 1946 with rank of Lt. Colonel in Field Artillery.

Joseph was elected District Judge in Garvin, McClain and Cleveland Counties in 1954. He became Chief Judge of Garvin & McClain Counties in 1969. He was a member of the Oklahoma Bar, the National Bar Association, the Court of the Judiciary on both trial Division and Appellate Division. He was a member of the Court of Bank Review, Presiding Judge of the South Central Administrative Area, elected in 1974 and President of Oklahoma Judicial Conference. He served as a director of the Law School Alumni Organization; on the Court of Judiciary, Presiding Judge of the Appellate Court of the Judiciary, and served on the state of Oklahoma Ethics Commission from 1996 to 1997.

He was a member of First United Methodist Church and First Baptist Church of Pauls Valley where he was Baptized on November 23, 1997. Joe served as President of Rotary; Commander of the American Legion; Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars; Exalted Ruler of the Elks Club; Director of the Chamber of Commerce; Director of the United Fund; Past District Chairman of Boy Scouts; and District Chairman of Red River Council of Boy Scouts.

Surviving family include his wife of almost 64 years, Anna Lee Shumate, of the home in Pauls Valley; 2 children, Joanna Margaret and her husband Chauncey D. Klingensmith, and Joseph Kent 'Jay' Shumate and his wife Lisa K. Goodwin Shumate, all of Pauls Valley; Grandchildren, Erin Margaret Klingensmith-Duffy and her husband Dennis Duffy, Leslie Anna Klingensmith-Taylor and her husband Ed Taylor and Chauncey Dale Klingensmith, III; Great Grandchildren, Maggie and Embree Duffy and Samuel Taylor; and 2 sisters, Margaret Sacra Brew and Julia Sacra, both of Pauls Valley.

Memorials may be sent to Alzheimer Research at Oklahoma Memorial Research Foundation; the Pauls Valley Foundation for Academic Excellence; Boys Scouts of America or the M.S. Foundation. Cards and addresses may be obtained from the office of Stufflebean-Coffey Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, February 22, 2005 at 10:00 am at First Baptist Church of Pauls Valley officiated by Dr. Joe Elam. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery under the direction of Stufflebean-Coffey Funeral Home.