Shirley Virginia Schneider

Shirley Virginia Schneider Shirley Virginia Schneider, 90, of Traverse City, passed away peacefully on May 25, 2023 at Boardman Lake Glens. She leaves behind her two daughters Laurie and Carol; Carol's husband, Joe Cacaci; Grandson Sam McCarthy, her siblings Evonne Malcomson, Jacqueline Somerville, Arthur Browne, Art’s wife Joyce Browne, Marilyn Wakefield, Kenneth Browne, Kenneth’s wife Janis Browne, and many beloved nieces and nephews. Born on October 31,1932, in Wyandotte to the late Arthur E. and Edna E. (Bush) Browne, Shirley began piano lessons at 10. Within four years, she’d become the pianist at her small Baptist church and, at the same time, was hired for her first paying job as a pianist for the ballet classes at the Wyandotte Conservatory of Music. She went on to study music at Wayne State University. While attending Bowling Green State University, she was spotted by Robert Lee Schneider on the tennis court. He later called her and offered her a ride home that semester that would officially start their 66-year relationship. After Shirley graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration, she and Bob were married on June 4, 1955. Shirley passed the CPA exam shortly thereafter and, in 1958, became one of the first female members of the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants. Shirley and Bob spent nine years in Saginaw, Michigan, where both their daughters were born before they eventually settled in Traverse City, Michigan in 1970. There, Shirley worked in Frank Shumsky’s Ladd Enterprises as a CPA while Bob built the family a house on Wayne Hill and worked in the business office at the State Hospital. Shirley retained a life-long passion for music and the arts which she passed on to her daughters who took up careers in the arts. Shirley loved gardening and decorating; and her home and wardrobe always burst with color. She was a member of Traverse City’s Friendly Garden Club for 19 years, serving as president for 2 years, and vice president for 2 years. She served as chairman of the Traverse City Commons Committee for 2 years, helping develop the early plans for the property including ideas for the forthcoming Botanical Gardens. Shirley spent many years composing the music, lyrics, and book of a musical, Hello Mrs. Klingelhofer, which had a staged reading at the Old Town Playhouse. She chose to share her musical gifts in many ways throughout her life and the residents of Cordia and Boardman Lake Glens (where she lived the last 6 years), really enjoyed hearing her play the piano, a gift she never lost, playing well into her 90th year. Shirley really enjoyed talking to people and the last few years, loved to tell stories of her childhood with her 5 siblings in both Wyandotte and their storied cottage in Gaylord where they spent some memorable years. Shirley's daughters would like to thank the staff of Cordia and Boardman Lake Glens of Traverse City for their devotion and kindness to Shirley. Also the staff and volunteers of ProMedica hospice who stepped up to bring whatever was needed the last couple of months including people to talk to and help with comfort and kind service to the family. Because gardens were a big part of both Shirley and Bob's lives, Laurie and Carol are asking that donations be given to the Farm2Neighbor Program of Northwest Michigan Food Coalition. https://www.nmcaa.net/farm2neighbor.asp A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 3pm at The Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral home, 305 Sixth Street, Traverse City, Michigan, 49684. Please join the family in wearing bright colors to the memorial service.

Shirley Virginia Schneider

October 31, 1932 - May 25, 2023