Jeanne Anne Shumway

Phoenix, AZ. Jeanne Anne Reames Rathbun Shumway, died peacefully with her family by her side on August 8, 2020, two days shy of her 90th birthday. The daughter of Glenn M. Reames and Mary Sise Reames, Jeannie was born on August 10, 1930, in Springfield, Ohio. She moved to Mesa, with her parents and brother, John Lester Reames, in 1940 and graduated from Mesa High School in 1948.

After high school, Jeannie went on to St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing, graduating with an RN degree in 1952. It was during nurses training that she met her first husband, Fred Rathbun. She and Fred were married in April 1952, and had two children.

In 1963, Jeannie married Jerry Shumway, also from Mesa. She loved Jerry’s children, grandchildren and great grandchild as her own. They were married 49 years at the time of his death.

Jeannie’s nursing experience was multi-faceted and included assignments in the ER, ICU, Neonatal unit, medical surgery, orthopedics, neurology and home health care. She worked in the nursery at Good Samaritan Hospital, at Hollywood Hospital in Florida, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix for 16 years and at the Maricopa County Health Department.

Her love of patient care has never ended. In retirement she volunteered in the Emergency Room at Baptist Hospital and at St. Luke’s Hospital Emergency Room where she was named volunteer of the quarter several times. Having been an ER nurse for many years, she had the insight necessary to ensure the ER staff had the supplies necessary to handle patient care efficiently and also comforted patients and their families. She volunteered in the gift shop Chris Ridge Retirement Community. The shop thrived during her tenure because there was rarely a day when Jeannie didn’t buy something for one of her myriad friends or family members.

Jeannie was an avid bowler with a high game of 221 plus numerous awards for bowling milestones. It was at bowling that she “adopted” then 50-year old Clark Bloom, her teammate. She enjoyed the many birthday parties with Clark and his family.

She became an exercise enthusiast spending many hours walking at the mall and working out at the YWCA. She loved reading and devoured romance novels and was especially enthralled with books set in the antebellum south.

Chocolate, cats, family and friends were the focus of her life, and her thoughtfulness and generosity were unequaled. She was an incredible mother having raised her children alone after her divorce. Most importantly, despite the divorce, she maintained a wonderful friendship with her children’s father.

Jeannie became like a traveling Mary Poppins for her grandchildren. On her yearly visits to New Hampshire, her suitcase was full of never-ending surprises, and much of her visit was spent seeking treasures to take back home. On Jeannie’s weekly visits with her grandchildren, Nick, Cody and Jake, she would bring art projects to do together. The Rathbun house was full of beautiful creations, including the ever-favorite birdfeeders—pinecones with peanut butter. She was incredibly resourceful. When she needed a paper towel roll for a project, she rerolled the paper towels on two toilet paper rolls. There was just a slight bend in the middle.

Jeannie is survived by her son, Kevin Rathbun and his wife, Annette; her daughter, Karen DeFusco and her husband Bob; her step children, Sharon Shumard and John Shumway, eight grandchildren, Tiffany and Matthew DeFusco, Cody & Jake Rathbun, Nick Tarabori, Jeremy & Travis Shumard and Monica Schultz, three great-grandchildren, and nephews, Micky & Marty Reames.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Disabled American Veterans, Wounded Warriors and the Humane Society .