Shirley was born November 18, 1933 in Aberdeen, South Dakota. She was a devoted and loving wife, mother of 5, grandmother of 11 and great-grandmother of 15.
Growing up Shirley’s life revolved around her beloved church family and friends. She attended Scandinavia Lutheran Church in Rural Aberdeen S.D. She was baptized, confirmed, attended weekly Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and sang in the church choir. Shirley said, “I feel blessed to have grown up in this wonderful church community.” This built the foundational, lifelong faith of spiritual, social and moral character she exhibited throughout her life.
One of her Favorite Verses is Proverbs 22:6 “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”
Shirley enjoyed attending the country schools near her home and went on to graduate from Aberdeen Central High School (1951). Shirley would reminisce of her childhood, living on the Carmine homestead farm, S.E. of Bath, S.D. In the summer, Shirley and younger sister, MaryJane, loved playing house under the shade of the chokecherry trees. In the winter, she and sister would ice skate on the Moccasin Creek. Her mother would ring the dinner bell when it was time to come home at dusk. Shirley learned to love the night sky, guided by her mothers’ voice teaching her the constellations on their trips to the outhouse. Around the age of 12, electricity arrived on the farm along with the telephone (crank type). She was an avid reader and said how wonderful it was when she could read under a bright light. In the evenings, she held the flashlight for dad as he cared for the animals. She helped her mom and dad feed and water the hogs, milk the cows, collect eggs, pack them into crates, and get them to market. While also helping her mother tend the garden, washing clothes with a wringer style machine, and ironed with a iron that would be heated on the stove. Shirley fondly remembered her father singing, “She’s only a bird in a gilded cage”, as she enjoyed sitting on his lap while he smoked his pipe. As a young girl, dad would take her to the S.D. Pheasants baseball games whenever they were in town.
Living on the farm, she had recollections of neighbors and families, gathering regularly to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries: pot luck dinners, desserts, card games, and sometimes meeting at the local dance hall, until late in the evening.
Shirley moved to Aberdeen, to attend her junior/senior High School, working as a nanny in the evenings, for a young boy in exchange for room and board. She worked at Fritz Forseth Insurance Company as a file clerk, and also took private piano lessons.
In High School she met the love of her life, Douglas Keith Schoen, at the local roller rink. She and Doug were engaged in July 1951. A year after Shirley graduated from High School, she left her hometown and drove with Dougs family to Key West, FL, to marry at the Naval Base Chapel in June 1952. Doug and Shirley went on to have five children (all born in different states: FL, S.D., OK, AZ, NM), eventually making Spring, Texas their final home. They met countless dear friends along their journey, establishing bonds that endured over the years.
Early 60’s, Doug was hired on with Continental Airlines. Shirley and Doug took to the skies, traveling the US and Abroad. They also made it a priority to travel by plane or car, every year, ensuring their children stayed closely connected to their extended families that lived afar!
They were members of Klein Trinity Lutheran Church in Spring, TX, where Shirley was a dedicated volunteer.
Shirley’s love for children was the beginning of her babysitting career! She became the most beloved babysitter in her neighborhood subdivision. Shirley continued to travel after Dougs early death in 1994. She was an active member of several travel clubs, and was always organizing road trips or flying off somewhere with her family.
She spent many hours in her beautiful yard, where she found joy in every detail, cultivating a vibrant home for flowers, birds, butterflies and turtles alike. Shirley found Purpose and Nurturing in all Living Things!
Shirley Never met a stranger; Her Smile had a way of lighting up every room she walked into; She had such a Giving And Kind Heart; She led her family with true genuine Unconditional Love. Shirley (mom) left so many lasting Wonderful Memories!
Another Favorite Verse of hers is Psalm 100:5 “For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations”
Shirley is survived and lovingly remembered by her Sons, Randall Douglas (MaryBeth), Mark Earl, and Jeffrey Alan (Stephanie); Daughters, Cynthia Ann (Bill) Morris and Jana Lynn (Chris) Russell; Grandchildren, Amy (Chad) Teetzen, Heidi Schoen, Aaron (Judith) Schoen, Hannah Schoen, Jonathan (Kelly) Morris, Joshua (Kristin) Morris, Dakota (Jordan) Kirby, Darrion (Zach) Hardoin, Tyler (Chrissy) Schoen, and Olivia Schoen; cherished Great-Grandchildren, Noah Morris, Wesley Morris, Levi Morris, Layla Morris, Amelia Teetzen, Henry Teetzen, Jackson Schoen, Gisselle Schoen, Addison Schoen, Carter Schoen, Wyatt Hardoin, Everly Kirby, Warren Kirby, and Oakley Kirby.
She is preceded in death by her Parents, Chester and Alice Carmine; Husband, Douglas Keith Schoen; Grandson, Andrew Douglas Earl Schoen; Great-Grandson, Parker John Schoen; and Siblings, Ruby Hausauer, Beulah Flolo, Goldie Mardian, Chester Jr. Carmine, Wilma Kumpf, and MaryJane Bernard.
Many other extended family members and a host of friends are also left to cherish Shirley's memory.
LETTER TO MOM:
When We Needed a Friend who cared about our feelings, someone to give her time unselfishly, When we needed a WARM EMBRACE or just a smiling face…MOM, you’ve ALWAYS been there for us!
When We needed someone to listen to our problems, to offer wise advice and sympathy, Someone to understand if we needed a helping hand….MOM, you’ve ALWAYS been there for us!
When we needed a good example to inspire us, someone to help us be all we could be, to share our HAPPINESS, take pride in our successes…MOM, you’ve ALWAYS been there for us!
For all our lives, no matter what we’ve needed, your SPECIAL LOVE was there to see us through…MOM, That’s some of the many reasons why WE LOVE YOU SO!
