Patricia Shoemaker Ireson

Patricia Irene Shoemaker Ireson, aged 87, better known as Mema Pat, joined the Church Triumphant on August 3, 2024, in Beaufort, SC, her favorite place on Earth. She had wished for and had enjoyed one last beach day, went to sleep, and woke up in her eternal home with her Lord and Savior.

Pat was born in Jonesville NC in the “little house on the creek” on February 5, 1937, to Grover Dean and Annie Pearl Shore Shoemaker. Pat graduated from Jonesville High School in 1955, where she was a proud Blue Jay cheerleader, and was crowned Homecoming Queen her senior year. On November 2, 1955, Pat married her football star, the love of her life, Cecil Ireson. They spent many happy years raising their family, supporting their children and grandchildren in their musical and sports endeavors, fishing at Topsail Island, and enjoying Cecil’s musical career together. They had a fairy tale type of love that lasted almost 60 years, until Cecil’s passing in 2010. She was a member of New Beginnings United Methodist Church in Jonesville NC.

Pat retired from The Yadkin Enterprise, where she worked in advertising sales as well as writing award-winning feature articles and meeting and making many lifelong friends. She was well-known for her baking and cake decorating skills. Pat enjoyed her “Golden Girls trips” all over the Southeast with her mother, sister, cousin, daughter, and grandchildren. She was an avid sports fan, especially enjoying Atlanta Braves baseball and Duke basketball. Mema loved her Blue Devils!

Pat was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband Cecil, a brother, Jack D. Shoemaker, a sister, Dixie S. Wright, brothers in law, John (Fuzz) Ireson and Jessie L. Wright, special niece and nephews, Sonya Bryant-Draughon, Barry L. Bryant, and Terry Lee Wright, and a special cousin, Eurlene S. Shoemaker.

She is survived by her daughter, Dawn Ireson Poston and husband John Poston, her son, Rev. Charles (Chuck) Ireson and wife Rev. Sandra Ireson, grandchildren, Clint Poston, Brittany and Derick Holdaway, Chris and Lydia Ireson, and Schuyler and Nicholas Carter, great-grandchildren, Makenzie, Kaylee, Taiven, Iree, Isaiah, Caden, Jaxon, Hank, and Deuce, sisters in law, Carol Ireson and Pat Shoemaker, and special nieces and nephews, Sandi Bryant, Scott Wright, Fred Shoemaker, and Renee Osborne, along with her church family at New Beginnings United Methodist Church, whom she loved dearly.

The family will receive friends at 1:00 PM on Saturday, August 10, 2024, at New Beginnings United Methodist Church followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 2:00 PM with Reverend Edward Birt and Reverend Sandra Ireson officiating. Burial will follow at Arlington First Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family wishes to thank Mtn. Valley Hospice for the wonderful care given to Mema Pat in her final days, especially her nurse Dedra, who went above and beyond to give compassionate care. To her friends at New Beginnings UMC, we can never thank you enough! May God richly bless you all!

Online condolences may be made at www.elkinfuneralservice.com

Arrangements entrusted to Elkin Funeral Service