Born on July 29, 1941, in St. Louis, Mo., Jim, the son of the late Dr. George R. Shoemaker and Helen Shaffer Shoemaker, grew up in Webster Groves, MO with his older brother, Dick. He attended Webster Groves High School, where he was active in the choir. He graduated from University of Missouri-Columbia, where he earned his BA, MA, and PhD in counseling psychology.

In 1971, he came west to Washington, settling in Pullman, where he was an associate professor of counseling psychology at Washington State University. Later in his career, he directed the HEP program at WSU through which he helped disadvantaged students earn their GED. He retired from WSU in 2004.

Jim was an avid skier, sailor, and golfer, and led many family trips to Brundage Mountain in McCall, Idaho, Lake Pend Orielle near Sandpoint, Idaho, and any golf course willing to rent carts to a man with five kids. He loved visiting and playing with his three grandsons, and took much joy in watching them learn and grow. He will be much missed by all.