In Memoriam: Rebecca Lu Schumacher
November 10, 1950 – August 2, 2024
We are saddened to share that Becky Schumacher passed away.
Becky worked as a Med Tech and a Computer Programmer before joining ARCO Alaska, where she had a successful career, becoming one of the first female managers on the North Slope. She got divorced during this time and her husband left Alaska, but she stayed. Becky became immersed in the Alaska life, including commercial set netting in Bristol Bay for several years and traveling around the state with friends and family.
Becky was one of the first female managers on the North Slope.”
After the BP/ARCO merger, Becky took retirement, and worked as a consultant for a few years. She finally retired fully due to health reasons and to care for her aging parents. She and her partner, Stuart Bunnell, traveled extensively and enjoyed their retirement years together.
Nancy Moses Joseph worked with Stuart at BP and knew Becky from her ARCO days. “I introduced Stu and Becky, and they had their first blind date together,” said Nancy. “I had just had lunch with Becky to reconnect after one battle with cancer had passed. She said she was ready to have someone in her life. Enter: Stu! The rest is history. They are both such good people that it was lucky that they found each other. They were so very devoted to each other, really taking care of each other. In February 2024, they had an official commitment ceremony at the Lutheran Church in front of close friends.”
Becky specifically looked up former co-workers and then visited them, including John and Cindy Minier at their homes in Tucson, Arizona and Estes Park, Colorado. “Becky was amazing,” shared Cindy Minier. “She reached out and said she’d like to visit us in our Tucson home years ago and ever since we’ve basically saw her almost yearly. She was always upbeat. Stuart stood by her side with a positive attitude. No one could ask for a better mate. When she found out, I had lung cancer, She showed me all the latest and greatest things. Like if I had lost my hair (thankfully, I did not. ), there are faux bangs that show from under a cap. She was honest with her struggles and her belief in God and I always appreciated her openness.”
She was honest with her struggles and her belief in God and I always appreciated her openness.” – Cindy Minier
Cindy loved Becky’s ability to reach out to others because she genuinely wanted to be with them. “She was strong and knowledgeable about her cancer and between her and her doctors, they kept her alive for a long time,” said Cindy. “We will miss her but will always remember her positive attitude.”
Becky was very sociable and had countless numbers of friends that she kept in contact with all over the country. From her high school friends in Oklahoma City to church family and dance club partners in Anchorage, she was meeting, writing, texting, and talking to and with them all regularly. Becky’s faith was both fierce and humble. Her last few years were dominated by health issues, but she remained a beloved friend and confidant for everyone that she was close to.
Becky is survived by her brother Mike (Kelly) in Seattle, her brother Tim (Noriko) in Honolulu, her sister Mary (Ken) in Palo Alto, CA, seven nieces and nephews, and her partner, Stuart.
Becky became one of the early members of Amazing Grace Lutheran Church on Elmore Road and remained active there for the rest of her life. A joyful memorial service will be held at Amazing Grace Lutheran Church in Anchorage on Saturday, September 7, 2024, at 11AM (10955 Elmore Rd). The service will also be streamed on Youtube under Amazing Grace Lutheran Church – Anchorage.
Donations can be made to Amazing Grace Lutheran Church and/or Let Every Woman Know – Alaska {http://leteverywomanknow.org). Special thanks and love go out to Dr. Joanie Hope and her “host of angels” at Alaska Women’s Cancer Care and Dr. Kathleen Moore and her team at Stephenson Cancer Center in Oklahoma City.
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