Ad
For as long as most people in Socorro can remember, Stella Shoemaker has been there—walking her newspaper route, greeting friends at church, chatting with customers at Pizza Hut, calling loved ones every morning at 8 a.m. sharp. At 59, Shoemaker has spent a lifetime quietly stitching together community through simple acts of consistency, kindness, and connection.
Shoemaker was born and raised in Socorro and got her start in public life early—very early. Her mother, Sally Shoemaker, worked at El Defensor Chieftain, and it wasn’t long before Stella found her own job there.
“I had my route, and I did that for 16 years,” she said.
She started in elementary school, walking door-to-door across a wide stretch of town. At a time when the Chieftain published twice a week—Tuesdays and Thursdays—Shoemaker delivered papers after school, rain or shine.
She became one of the paper’s top carriers, selling more subscriptions than anyone else. Many of the people who bought newspapers from her would later buy raffle tickets from her for the San Miguel Parish barbeque. When Stella Castillo was crowned this year’s fiesta queen, she said she crowned Shoemaker, who she says is like her daughter, Queen of the Tickets.
Shoemaker’s volunteer work with the church didn’t end with tickets, though.
“I started helping in CCD when I was seven,” she said. She eventually assisted Castillo with classes, who today describes Shoemaker as “a friend to everybody.”
Castillo describes Shoemaker as dependable, gentle, and a blessing to the community.
“I wish there were a lot more Stellas around,” she said.
Shoemaker, who was born legally blind, also built a reputation for commitment in her work life. She spent 28 years at Pizza Hut, washing dishes, wiping tables, prepping ingredients and getting to know generations of managers, employees and customers. She also worked with Tresco, the agency that supports adults with disabilities, and through them held additional roles.
Ad
An avid Lobo basketball fan from the age of seven, Shoemaker hasn’t missed a game. In 1993, she was invited to meet the players and even try on star Roy Foyle’s jersey—an experience she still remembers vividly.
Sports weren’t just for watching, either. Shoemaker participated in local Special Olympics for many years, competing in track and field, softball, and even swimming. “Swimming one year. That was good enough,” she said, with a laugh.
What anchors her, though, are her relationships. She visits friends throughout the week and keeps treasured routines alive—like “cookie in the cookie jar,” her Friday tradition of stopping in at a longtime friend’s home for a sweet treat. She is so committed to the ritual that she often turns down dessert elsewhere to save room.
She and Castillo maintain a daily phone call, too.
“She calls me at eight o’clock every morning unless we decide another time,” Castillo said. “Sometimes she calls and I forget—but she never forgets.”
When asked what advice she has for young people, Shoemaker said, “Talk to people.” It’s a lesson she’s embodied all her life. She chats with strangers, greets neighbors warmly, and keeps close ties with people she’s known for decades.
For Shoemaker, community isn’t something abstract. It’s built one conversation at a time, one newspaper delivered, one ticket sold, one friendly visit, one well-timed phone call.
“It’s important to have people,” she said simply.
In Socorro, Stella Shoemaker has spent a lifetime proving just how true that is.
Editor’s note: If you would like to nominate someone for our Local Legends, Youth Spotlight or Creative Minds feature please email jcarranza@dchieftain.com
