Janice Kay Shoemaker

Janice Sceirine Shoemaker (formerly Nicholas) passed away peacefully in Yerington, Nevada, on September 15, 2026, at the age of 83. Jan led a unique, purposeful life, full of laughter, love, hard work, and an emphasis on making the world a better place for all. 

Born to Lester “Toby Sceirine and Edna “Jayne” Sceirine (Fullenwider) in March 1943, she was raised on their ranch with her brothers Herb, Joe, Tommy, and David. Her rural upbringing and education through 7 th grade in a one-room schoolhouse called Barrett School, would inform the rest of her life.

In 1964, Tom Nicholas stopped in Yerington to visit a friend while on his way to the Japan Olympics, but he met Jan and decided to stay and get married instead. John and Peggy soon followed. Many years later, Bob Shoemaker spotted Jan at a Reed High basketball game. They married in 1986, and celebrated their 40 th anniversary this year!

Education was Jan’s absolute passion. After obtaining her bachelor’s degree from UNR in 1966, Jan started her 32-year career in education at Reno High School, teaching English. She would later teach English at Clayton Middle School and Sparks High, until she became a Dean at Sparks High (thereafter obtaining her M.Ed. from UNR). Then she was a vice principal at Reno High and Reed High, and finally, the principal at Washoe High from 1985-91 and at Sparks High from 1991-96. Jan was laser-focused on helping students and staff reach their full potential, and especially with regard to that, she would not let anything deter her from her goal. By the time she “retired” from WCSD, she still desired more time in the classroom and taught English for 2 years at Bishop Manogue High School. With a natural instinct for counseling, Jan sought/received a Maters of Arts in Counseling and Educational Psychology from UNR in 1999. Over the years, those around her lost count of how many times Jan “retired”, and after moving back to Yerington, she was a long-term substitute social worker at South Lyon Medical Center several times, as well as a long-term substitute principal and vice principal a number of times at Yerington High (of course, also substitute teaching at times). Jan retired for the last time in 2016 at the age of 73, but her thoughts always remained with education.

During her life, Jan belonged to many organizations, some of which included: Soroptimist International, Reading Center of Northern Nevada, South Lyon Medical Center Hospital Auxiliary, and St. Anne’s Guild. In addition, she was on the advisory boards at Sierra Nevada Job Corps and Truckee Meadows Community College (ABE/ESL).

Leaving a stark absence in our days but a warm comfort in our hearts, Jan is survived and adored by her loving husband, R. Robert “Bob” Shoemaker, who was the love of her life; her children & their spouses -- son John (Dena) Nicholas; daughter Peggy (Pat) McKeever; stepson Brian (Linda) Shoemaker; stepdaughter Tracie (Steve) Zarubi; stepson Barry Shoemaker; grandchildren & their spouses – Katie (Luke) Smith, Michael (Skyler) Nicholas, Patrick McKeever, Nicholas McKeever, Emily (Anthony) Pike, Maddie Shoemaker, Greg (Kelly)Zarubi, Rob (Kate) Zarubi, Matt Zarubi, Bryan Powers, and Sydney Shoemaker; and great- grandchildren -- Halle Smith, Kai Pike, Malia Pike, Eli Zarubi, Ryan Zarubi, and Tyler Zarubi; and her brothers Joe (Kay) Sceirine and David (Marilyn) Sceirine. She is also survived by her many nieces and nephews, all of whom she loved dearly.

Funeral services will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church, Yerington, Nevada, on Thursday, September 24 (rosary--9:30am; Catholic mass—10am), with a reception to follow at the adjacent Catholic Center. All are welcome! If you wish to donate in lieu of flowers, please consider The Alzheimer’s Association https://Alzheimer's Association / or Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth https://nphy.org. 

 Family and friends are invited to sign her online guest book at www.FRFH.net Arrangements are under the direction of Freitas Rupracht Funeral Home, 25 Hwy 208 Yerington, Nevada 89447  (775) 463-2911