Cherie Shoemake​

(Class of 1982)

Cherie Shoemake played three sports and was the ASB Director of Activities her senior year, at West High School. In the fall of 1981, she created and implemented an orientation for all incoming freshmen to provide education about the school and what it means to be a Viking.  The values she learned from her teachers, coaches and the staff at WHS led her to a life of service to her community as well as a desire to stay involved in athletics.


In 1980, Shoemake started umpiring Bobby Sox games and fell in love with this part of the game. During the six years she officiated Bobby Sox, she was selected to work two national tournaments.

After graduating high school, she joined the Kern County Officials Association and started umpiring high school softball. Forty-three years later she is still working games. Cherie has been selected to work numerous play-off games, seven Valley finals and the first softball State playoff game held in Kern County. She has served as the President of the KCOA and instructor for softball. Shoemake also officiated as a basketball referee for eight years. When asked about her community involvement, Cherie said  “I love being able to serve our schools and student athletes through officiating.”

In addition to her time as an official, Shoemake has also coached for four of the local high schools. “ I had the privilege of coaching the lower levels in volleyball at South and BHS and basketball at West and North.”.

In March of 1994, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. “It led me to an opportunity to serve our community full-time. I went from being a volunteer for the American Cancer Society to being hired as the Community Services Director for Kern County. After working there for seven years I had the opportunity to take a position with Optimal Hospice. In 2011 I became the Foundation Director where I worked with volunteers to raise money for families who needed hospice assistance and bereavement support.”  One of the programs is a grief camp for children. During her thirteen years with the Foundation, over 1,800 children who experienced the death of a loved one attended one of the camp sessions.

In February of 2024, she "officially" retired (Shoemake still helps with Kids Camp). Now she spends her time as a substitute Instructional Aide for the Fruitvale School District as well as umpiring, announcing Bakersfield College softball games and volunteering with ACS Relay For Life.

In their free time, she and her partner of 30 years, Lydia, like to travel. They love attending concerts and sporting events as well. They have twelve nieces and nephews that keep them very busy.

“Bakersfield and West High School are such an important part of who I am today. Being a proud graduate of the class of 1982, I am so honored to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. I have and always will instill a sense of VIKING PRIDE into everything I do.” exhorted the spirited, forever, Viking.