Deeply loved and now deeply missed, Ed Shoemake died on New Year’s Day, of an aggressive and rare form of cancer. Ed was born in Houston to Jack and Betty Shoemake and raised in Baytown. From that day on, he proceeded to show friends and family what it meant to live a rich and full life.

       An Eagle Scout and a graduate of Lee High School, Ed prided himself on being able to make and repair anything. As a teenager, he made his own fiberglass surfboards, complete with perfect red pin striping. He earned a Bachelor’s of Architecture from Texas Tech University and an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin, and applied those skills to his work as a project manager on architectural assignments as diverse and complex as large-scale real estate developments, the international terminals at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, colleges and corporate buildings throughout Texas and adjoining states. Ed was one of those rare people who could think and plan three steps ahead, but could also make his ideas clear to his team, while inspiring those around him to do their best. He embraced complex challenges and tamed them with intricate and imaginative solutions. If something was broken, he was there to repair and improve it.

          This tendency extended far beyond his work, whether he was helping his daughter Sarah with school projects, planning family trips with detailed bound itineraries, or cooking one of his exquisite, multi-course Christmas dinners. Ed loved the preparation as much as the outcome, which, of course, made the outcome that much better.  He approached every task with good humor and intense curiosity. Even in his last days at the hospital, Ed cracked jokes and made suggestions of how to improve the lighting.

          One aspect of his life never needed repair: his family. Ed and his wife Carrie’s marriage was a beautiful thing to behold, a true partnership of equals, based on mutual respect and boundless love. They applied the same principles to raising their daughter Sarah; Ed showed his love in infinite ways and was a deeply involved and supportive father.

           As well as Carrie Glassman Shoemake and Sarah Shoemake, Ed leaves behind a loving extended family, including his brother Jeff Shoemake, his cousin Pamela Horton, numerous in-laws, nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.

A memorial service will be held at the Asia Society Texas Center (1370 Southmore Blvd.) at 2 pm, Sunday, January 14, 2018.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Ed’s memory to Musiqa (www.musiqahouston.org), a non-profit whose mission is to integrate new music into performance and education. The funds will be used to commission a new musical work as a lasting tribute to Ed’s life. Musiqa’s January 13th concert at The MATCH will be dedicated to Ed’s memory. Tickets are available at www.musiqahouston.org and friends and family are welcome to attend. 

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