Finding a specific tribute in the shumate funeral home obituaries shouldn't feel like a chore. Honestly, when you're dealing with the loss of someone in the Middlesboro area, the last thing you want is a clunky website or a confusing search process. You're just looking for the service time or a place to leave a kind word for the family.
Shumate Funeral Home has been a fixture in the tri-state area since 1890. That's a massive amount of history. They’ve seen the town change, but their approach to documenting lives has stayed pretty consistent. It's about community.
Where to Look Right Now
If you're hunting for a recent obituary, the absolute best place to start is the official Shumate Funeral Home website. They keep a rolling list of current services right on the homepage. You'll usually see the name, the dates of birth and death, and a link to "View Details."
But what if it’s not there?
Sometimes there's a delay. Or maybe the person passed away a few months ago. In those cases, you've got a few other reliable spots to check:
- The Middlesboro Daily News: This is the local paper they partner with most often.
- Legacy.com: Often picks up the feed from the funeral home automatically.
- Tribute Archive: A good backup if you want to see the "tribute wall" where people post photos and virtual candles.
The Most Recent Listings (Early 2026)
To give you an idea of who has been remembered recently, here are a few names from the shumate funeral home obituaries records as of January 2026.
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Kenneth Roy Lawson passed away on January 13, 2026. He was a pillar of the community, a deacon at Gap Creek Baptist Church for decades, and ran Big K Trucking. His service was held on January 16 at the Shumate chapel.
Then there was Randolph England, who passed on January 6, 2026. He was 79 and lived in Cumberland Gap.
Others we’ve seen recently include Allen Wayne Willis (January 5) and Mary Margaret Davis Partin, who passed away right after Christmas in late 2025.
Each of these listings usually includes a full biography. You’ll find things like where they worked, which church they attended, and a long list of surviving family members. It’s the "Middlesboro way" to be thorough about those connections.
Why These Obituaries Matter More Than You Think
In a small town, an obituary isn't just a notice. It’s a historical record.
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Denise R. Shumate, the current president, and the staff there understand that these documents serve the family for years. If you look at the older archives, you’re basically looking at the genealogy of Bell County.
The funeral home itself is located at 2321 Cumberland Avenue. It’s that big, colonial-style building on the corner of 24th. It was originally the home of Boston and Rose Wakin before William "Bill" Shumate bought it in 1961. His wife, Mattie, was the one who handled the interior decor to make it feel less like a "facility" and more like a home.
That "home" feeling carries over into how they write the obituaries. They aren't just dry facts. They often mention a person’s favorite hobby, their nickname, or the specific dialysis center staff they wanted to thank.
Finding Older Records
If you are doing genealogy or looking for someone who passed away years ago, the online list on the main website might not go back far enough.
You should try the Mid-Continent Public Library. They actually have physical and digital registers of Shumate Funeral Home obituaries specifically for Middlesboro.
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Also, don't overlook the local library in Middlesboro. They keep microfilm of the old newspapers which will have the printed versions of these tributes. Sometimes the printed version in the newspaper has slightly different details than what was posted online.
What to Do If You Can't Find Someone
Kinda frustrating when a name doesn't pop up, right?
There are a few reasons why a search for shumate funeral home obituaries might come up empty:
- Privacy: Some families choose not to publish an obituary. It’s rare, but it happens.
- Private Services: If the services are private, the family might wait until after the funeral to post anything.
- Out of Town: If the person lived elsewhere but is being buried in Middlesboro, the obituary might be listed under a funeral home in a different city.
- The Name Game: Try searching just by the last name. Sometimes middle names or nicknames (like "Sissy" or "Mick") can throw off a Google search.
Basically, if it’s been more than 48 hours since the passing and nothing is online, your best bet is to call the home directly at (606) 248-1234. They are usually very helpful with service times, even if the full text hasn't hit the web yet.
Actionable Steps for You
If you are looking for information to attend a service or send flowers, here is how you should handle it:
- Check the Official Site First: Go to shumatefuneralhome.com and look at the "Obituary Listings" tab. This is the "source of truth."
- Sign Up for Alerts: Legacy.com has a feature where you can get an email when a new name is added to the Shumate list.
- Send Flowers Early: If the visitation is today, don't wait. Use the "Send Flowers" link directly on the obituary page; it ensures the florist knows exactly which service the arrangement is for.
- Check the Tribute Wall: If you can't make it to Middlesboro, leave a comment on the online guestbook. Families really do read these weeks later when things quiet down.
Knowing the history and the layout of how they post makes the whole process a lot less stressful during a time when you probably have enough on your plate already.