Edwin John Shoemaker; Co-Founder of La-Z-Boy

Edwin John Shoemaker, 90, co-founder of La-Z-Boy. With a piece of plywood and a yardstick, Shoemaker designed the first La-Z-Boy reclining chair in 1928. He played an active role at La-Z-Boy from its inception until his death, serving as executive vice president of engineering and vice chairman of the board. In his later years, he took particular interest in preserving the history of La-Z-Boy in the company’s museum in Monroe, Mich. La-Z-Boy has 31 manufacturing facilities in the United States, Canada and Europe and sales of more than $1 billion. On Sunday in Sun City, Ariz.