Obituaries

Shirley Mills Schaefer

Photo of Shirley Mills Schaefer
Shirley Mills Schaefer, age 76, of Fayetteville passed away May 3, 2012 at her home after a battle with cancer. She was born May 16, 1935 in Memphis, Tennessee, the daughter of James Ira and Ethel Matthews Mills. She was preceded in death by her parents. Shirley taught elementary school in Jonesboro, Batesville, and Fayetteville, Arkansas, for more than 35 years. She retired from Leverett Elementary School in Fayetteville in 1994. She earned a bachelor's degree from Arkansas State College in Jonesboro and an M.Ed. from the University of Arkansas. In college she was a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority and later belonged to the Delta Kappa Gamma teacher's sorority. She was a member of University Baptist Church in Fayetteville and active in Women's Bible Study until her illness last year. Shirley and her husband have been active travelers and campers. They have visited all fifty states and have camped in most of them. She was also a member of the Auxiliary of Gideons International. Her hobbies included sewing, needlework and scrapbooking. Her survivors include her husband of 57 years, Donald E. Schaefer of the home; three daughters, Ann Covington and husband David, Carol Huneycutt and husband John of Fayetteville, and Susan Seaman and husband Terry of Johnson City, Tennessee; and one sister, Mary Marconi of Jonesboro. She is also survived by eleven grandchildren, Matthew Covington of Postjana, Slovenia; Katie Rogers of Cypress, Texas; James Covington of Chicago, Illinois; Lisa Kieklak of Fayetteville; Rebecca, Nathan, Caleb and Noah Seaman of Johnson City, Tennessee; and Jacob Samuel and Hannah Huneycutt of Fayetteville. There are also two great-grandsons, Jesse Covington and Ben Rogers. Family will receive friends 4–6 p.m. Sunday. May 6, 2012 at Moore's Chapel. Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at University Baptist Church with Dr. Mike Lumpkin and Dr. H.D. McCarty officiating. Burial to follow at the Fayetteville National Cemetery under the direction of Moore's Chapel. Pallbearers will be Bill Corbin, Chester Sullivan, Arlie Staggs, Ken Evans, Anthony Descher, Ralph Holt, Dale Eastburn, and Richard Hollingsworth. Honorary pallbearers will be Gideons and Auxiliary members of the Fayetteville North Camp of Gideons International and members of the Jim Hinton Sunday School class at University Baptist Church. Memorials can be made to The Gideons International, P.O. Box 3022, Fayetteville, Ark. 72702. To sign the online guest book visit www.mooresfuneralchapel.com.

Published May 5, 2012

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