Ruth Shumard

Ruth Patricia "Patsy" Shumard, age 89, of Biloxi, passed away Tuesday, September 10, 2019.
Patsy was born on April 3, 1930 in Chicago Illinois, and at the age of 9, moved with her family to Biloxi, living on Howard Ave. Patsy twirled her baton at Biloxi High School where she graduated in 1948. She remained in the area before meeting her first husband, Leo Provencher, a member of the US Air Force. Their marriage in 1952 took them to Salem Massachusetts where her husband took a job in Finance with focus on real estate. This is where all four children were born and enjoyed the love and support of their large extended family with their French Canadian roots.  Her husband died in a tragic car accident in 1957.  Pat later returned to Biloxi as a single mother with four children to be close to her own Mom and began working at Friendly Finance.
Patsy then settled on Bleuer Dr where she met her very best friend for life Joyce Dove.  The Dove's are like family and remain close to this day.  She got a civil service job on Keesler Air Force Base, where she met Bill Shumard, an officer in the Air Force, She and Bill married in 1961 and the family lived in several locations during his Air Force career before finally resettling in Biloxi. Pat enjoyed traveling in their RV and made trips to East and West coasts to visit with friends and family. She and Bill also traveled to skeet shooting competitions and enjoyed their time on the road and at the events. In her early thirties she even raced at the local drag strip competing with men in a car that her husband had built. She loved dressing up the Old Bay Road goose at her front door to reflect the holidays and seasons. In her later years she enjoyed staying at home and the company of her four kids and six grandchildren.
She was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend who will be missed by all.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Leo G. Provencher Sr.; her son, Thomas A. Provencher; her parents, Dr. William and Mildred Whitley; her brothers, Dr. Cornelius Glenn Whitley; William T. Whitley; and her best friend Joyce Dove.
She is survived by her husband, William Shumard; her children, Leo (Goy) Provencher Jr.; Kathleen (Charles) Culbertson, and Steven (Loan) Provencher and her grandchildren Matthew (Cherise) Provencher, Christopher (Amanda) Provencher, James C. (Imke) Simpson III., Megan Patrice Simpson, Lauren Taylor Provencher, Kellie Paige Provencher.
A funeral service will be held on Monday, September 16, 2019 at 1:30pm, at RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 274 Beauvoir Rd, Biloxi. Visitation will be from 12:30-1:30pm and interment will follow at Biloxi National Cemetery.