Gaylyn Shoemaker, age 66, of Auburn, Washington, affectionately known to many as The Dr. of Jollyology, passed away on November 16, 2019. She is survived by her husband K. Craig and their four children, Jubilyn (Lloyd) Lyver, Ryan (Jen) Shoemaker, Jared (Lindsey) Shoemaker, and Kiera (Ryan) Thomsen, and by her thirteen grandchildren and four siblings.

As an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Gaylyn revered God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. With her talents and skills, she blessed many lives: distributing homemade loaves of bread to friends and strangers; sewing clothes for family and others; and lending her remarkable craft skills to church and community events. Gaylyn was also a professional wedding photographer.

Hoping to bring joy to all, Gaylyn developed a ministry, calling herself a jollyologist and donning a red clown nose, medical scrubs, a doctor lab coat, a surgeon cap, pink glasses, oversize yellow tennis shoes, a ukulele, and a physician bag loaded with pill bottles labeled with inspiring quotations and filled with Skittles and Tootsie Rolls. As part of her jollyology ministry, Gaylyn volunteered at a senior living center in Federal Way, Washington, greeting the residents and staff with a big smile and a song on her ukulele. Always, she sought out bed-bound residents who received few visitors. Gaylyn loved all the people she served, and they loved her in return.

Gaylyn’s funeral will be held Saturday, November 23 at 11:30 am at the Lake Holm Ward Building of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 19107 SE Lake Holm Road, Auburn, Washington, with a viewing from 9:45 am to 11:00 am.

Gaylyn will be interred in the National Cemetery in Kent, Washington.