Lavoie Christene Buie Shoptaw, of Sheridan, was born December 13, 1921, in Prattsville, Arkansas, to Monroe and Pearl Stuckey Buie. She went home to be with the Lord January 24, 2013, after a brief stay at Saline Memorial Hospital in Benton. She was 91.
Mrs. Shoptaw has been a member of Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church in Prattsville since 1935. She married Carthel Melvin Shoptaw June 13, 1936. Carthel preceded her in death on January 23, 2001. Mr. and Mrs. Shoptaw were the original proprietors of Lavoie's Drive-In in Prattsville, currently "The Whippet."
Mrs. Shoptaw loved her church, family, friends and cats. She had many interests including cooking, quilting and flower-gardening.
Mrs. Shoptaw was preceded in death by her husband, parents, son Thurman Shoptaw, grandsons Barret Shoptaw and Scott Shoptaw; great grandson Tyler Watson, great granddaughter Alexandra Austin, son-in-law David Witherow, sisters Eunice Earnest, Addie Mae Earnest and Odessa Robbins, brothers Curtis, Cletis, Billy Joe and Clayton Buie. She is survived by sons, Wayne Shoptaw and Gary (Charlotte) Shoptaw, daughters Joyce (Robert) Bird and Joan Witherow, daughter-in-law Jo Shoptaw, grandchildren Karen (Steve) Watson, Dana (Carey) Arnett, Renee (Lindsey) Turney, Leah (Allen) Middleton, Shannah (Gary) Austin, Joi Shoptaw, Robbie (Sue) Bird, Sylvia (Gene) Nelson, Sam Witherow, Zachary (Shelby) Witherow, Amy (Shannon) Rushing and Jared (Brandi) Shoptaw; great grandchildren Grant and Reed Watson, Jordan (Sara) Arnett, Jacob and Joanna Arnett, Amanda (Jeremy) McNair, Brian Mullen, Rachel Carter, Ashley, Autumn, Michael, Alycson and Jon Paul Austin, Mason and Justus Bird, Kayla and Kortni Nelson, Brooklyn and Ayden Witherow and Taylor, Anabelle and Caroline Rushing; great-great grandsons Jackson McNair, Aaron and Gabriel; brothers, Tommy (Alice) Buie, Charles (Marie) Buie; loving caregivers Misty Pearson and Piper Montgomery, and numerous relatives and friends.
Services will be held at Memorial Gardens Chapel, Sheridan, Sunday, January 27, 3:00pm , with Bro. Don Goodman officiating. Visitation 2:00pm prior to services. Burial will be at Poe Cemetery near Sheridan.
Pallbearers are grandsons, grandsons-in-law and great grandsons. Memorials may be made to Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church, 281 Grant 48, Prattsville, AR 72129 or Poe Cemetery, 915 Elm Street, Sheridan, AR 72150.