Donald Wayne "Don" "Papa Shu" Shumard

Donald Wayne (Don) Shumard, 86, of Odessa, passed away on Friday, April 18, following a battle with cancer. Visitation is on Wednesday, April 23, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. and a funeral service on Thursday, April 24, at 1:00 p.m., with Landon Coleman officiating. Both the visitation and the funeral are at Sunset Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home in Odessa.

Don was born in Ada, Oklahoma on June 23, 1938, the firstborn of Melvin and Mildred Shumard. The family became complete with the birth of his sister JoAnn a couple of years later. He graduated from high school in Hobbs, New Mexico, in 1957. While he was in high school he met and fell in love with Peggy Robertson. They were married on October 25, 1959, in Lovington, New Mexico, and Don soon went to work for Kobe, Inc. He always liked to joke that he worked for the same company for his entire career, but the company changed names several times, so he retired from Weatherford. Don and Peggy's family grew to four in the next few years with the births of their son Dennis and daughter Cindy.

Don's work took them to several towns in New Mexico and West Texas, and they settled in Odessa in 1975. In 1990 Don joined the international division of Trico, and he traveled to and worked in many different countries, including Pakistan, Colombia, Indonesia, Angola, and Egypt, where he had the opportunity to visit the pyramids and ride a camel. Don was an avid fisherman and was never happier than when he was on a boat with friends and family members at Lake Brownwood, O. H. Ivie Reservoir, Lake Texhoma, or in Venezuela.

After his retirement in 2002, he and Peggy enjoyed traveling together and had the opportunity to take many cruises and other trips. When Peggy was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2010, Don became her full-time caregiver, serving her with love, patience, and compassion until her passing in December of 2020.

In 2021 he met Diana Saab at Immanuel Baptist Church in Odessa, and they were married there on January 22, 2022. They enjoyed some good fishing and traveling until several months ago when his health kept them at home. Diana loved and cared for him up until his death.

Don was predeceased by his parents and his beloved Peggy. He is survived by his wife Diana Shumard; his son and daughter-in-law, Dennis and Flaire Shumard; his daughter and son-in-law, Cindy and Robert Kager; and his favorite grandson, Grayson Shumard. He is also survived by his sister JoAnn Black, nephew Gary Peacock, niece Pam Seale, aunt Goldie Henderson, and numerous cousins.

Memorial donations may be made to M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. https://gifts.mdanderson.org

2 Corinthians 4:16-17 - Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.