Joan Aileen Shoman, age 87, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 25, 2025 in Adams, Nebraska leaving behind a legacy of love, strength, and devotion to her family.
Born in Ezel, Kentucky on June 13, 1938, she was the daughter of Lucian and Fern Patrick. Joan moved to southern Missouri at a young age and attended high school in West Plains, Missouri, where she began building the foundation of a life centered on family and hard work.
In November 1955, she married Eldon Max Bennett. Together they raised three children, and Joan devoted herself wholeheartedly to being a loving and supportive mother. She was a den mother for the Cub Scouts with her boys and a troop leader for her daughter’s Brownie troop.
In 1980, Joan married Loyd Shoman of Clinton, Missouri. The two shared a deep love for time spent together on their acreage—fishing, walking, reading side by side, and working in her quilting shop. They later became over-the-road truck drivers, traveling as a tandem team. Seeing the country together brought them great joy and left them with many treasured stories.
Joan was preceded in death by her parents, Lucian and Fern Patrick; her only brother, Charlie Patrick, and his wife, Vicky; her loving husband, Loyd Shoman; and her daughter-in-law, Dina Bennett.
She is survived by her children: Jerry Bennett of Apopka, Florida; Randy Bennett and his wife, Dawn, of Shell Knob, Missouri; and Patti Pagel and her husband, Bob, of Lincoln, Nebraska.
She is also survived by her grandchildren, whom she loved dearly: grandsons, Aaron Bennett (Sarah), Jeremy May (Jennifer), David Lee May, Taylor May (Paige), and Michael Hamilton (Kristin), Alex Pagel (Jessica), Spencer Pagel (Chelsea); and granddaughters Nicole Hamilton and DeLani Kibbe.
Joan was further blessed with many great-grandchildren who brought her immense joy, including Jacob, Jadyn, Jameson May, Abi, Braelynn May, Brayden Hamilton, Marley Burke, Micah Adams, Hayli Ruble, Maddie and Khyler Shelby, Jaxon, Derick and Kelce Pagel. Many nieces and nephews that she cherished.
Joan had many customers of her quilt shop that became true friends to her. Her quilts were featured in local state and county shows as well as within the book Quilts from the Quiltmaker’s Gift.
Joan will be remembered for her kindness, her love of stray animals, her quilts that are all over the country, and the steady love she gave to those around her. Her memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.
Funeral services were held December 31, 2025 at the Vansant-Mills Chapel, Clinton with Rev. David Mills officiating. The casket bearers were Aaron Bennett, Jeremy May, David Lee May, Taylor May, Mike George and Brian Patrick. Interment followed in Englewood Cemetery, Clinton, MO.
Services were under the direction of Vansant-Mills Funeral Home of Clinton, MO.
