Neva Rae Schoof

Neva Rae McCreary Schoof died peacefully on Thursday, October 3, 2019 after a year of illness and struggle. Celebration of life will be SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2019 at Kinsmen Lutheran Church, 12100 Champion Forest Drive, Houston, Texas, 77066 @ 11:00 a.m. Neva Rae was born January 7, 1933, to Walter and Mary McCreary in Dresden, Kansas. From the very beginning, Neva had a God given talent of music and the love for song. She began playing the piano at the young age of three, and her Grandmother gifted her with a baby grand piano at that time. Throughout her life, she played the piano and majored in music at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. After graduating at the young age of 20, she returned home to Denver, Colorado where her family had moved. That Thanksgiving, her parents invited several Air Force gentlemen to their house for dinner. Then and there she met her love and companion for life, Al Schoof. They were married the following March and happily spent 67 years together. While living in Denver, they were blessed with three children: Dana, Jana, and Eric. Throughout Neva’s life she taught numerous students piano lessons, played for countless weddings, funerals, and parties. She also played at many nightclubs and Country Clubs. When moving to Houston in 1971, she played at River Plantation and Champions Golf Club where she played every Sunday for the last 20 years. It is said that Neva knew each club members favorite song. When she would see them walk into the dining room for Sunday Brunch, she would play their song. In 1979, she connected with what would become some of her dearest friends, Jane White and Judy Hillegeist, who would later become the trio, “My Friends and I”. They entertained at parties, conventions, and specialty groups for 40 years all around the state of Texas, creating personal stories in song about people and life. Some of their most popular shows were “You Gotta Have a Bosom to Be a Buddy”, and “Back off the Bluebonnets Bubba”! They had the time of their lives, and had such a special friendship and bond. They also entertained at Waldemar Women’s Week in Hunt, Texas, where Neva loved going for the whole week and being with all of her “camp buddies” and life-long friends. What Neva loved the most was her family and friends. She loved making her grandsons chocolate shakes when they would visit. She also loved making her famous cinnamon rolls that she would share with so many of her family and friends each Christmas. She loved hearing stories about her great grandchildren that she didn’t get to see as much as she would like. She also provided meals for those less fortunate or sick. Neva never met a stranger, and wanted to help EVERYONE, even making sure the “trash men” who picked up their garbage, had a Coke waiting for them by the curb weekly. She loved God with all her heart and soul and our family rests in knowing she is in the arms of her Heavenly Father, and no longer suffering. She wanted to make sure Al was well cared for, and watched after. We moved them into assisted living in July, the house went up for sale, and all was planned. On Thursday, October 3rd, she fell asleep while taking a nap with her soulmate, Al, holding her hand. She died peacefully as we had hoped. Neva was the last survivor of her immediate family. She is preceded in death by her parents, her siblings, her son Eric, and great grandson, Matthew Madden McGuirk. Survivors are her husband, Al, her daughters and families, Dana and Bruce McGuirk, their sons and wives, Christopher and Jennifer McGuirk and their three children, Matthew and Brittany McGuirk and their three children, Dana’s younger sister Jana and Doug Ray, their children, Bill Ray, Steve and Allison Ray and their two children, and Kim and Trent Burford and their two children. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you donate to your favorite cause or charity in honor of Neva. Lastly, thank you to all the doctors and nurses that cared for Neva over the last year in so many capacities. And to all of the wonderful neighbors and friends that have made her life so special.