Edith "Edie" Schneider

Edith Ann Schneider was a devoted, loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother and great grandmother. Her spirit, love and unending energy touched the lives of all who met her. She was a hard worker who used her talents to provide for her family and to honor God. Born July 16, 1938, in Detroit, Michigan to Harry Baker and Georgia (Brown) Baker, Edith was the second oldest of four children. Her parents raised Edith along with her brother and sisters: Carol, Dorothy, and Harry in the Southfield area. Ediths father worked for Vickers making military equipment, while her mother stayed home to care for the children. Georgia also taught piano and played the organ at church. Edie, as Edith was called, grew up in the 1940s. Edie came of age at a time when the Great Depression was winding down, and WWII was just ahead. Both of these events molded her generation into the hard- working and patriotic group they are known to be. When Edie was eight, the family moved to Florida where their father helped his brother build a trailer park. They lived there for two years until her mothers asthma forced them to move back to Michigan. The Family settled in Petoskey where other relatives were living. Edie and the other children enrolled in school and became active in the community. While growing up, Edie developed a lifelong love of music. She and her sisters learned to sing harmonies together while their mother played the piano. In school, Edie became involved in playing the oboe in band and singing in the a cappella choir, the glee club, and a sextet. In 7th grade, Edie became interested in something other than music. Edie asked a young man named Hal Schneider to the Sadie Hawkins dance. That date sparked a romance that lasted fifty one years. Hal was quite the athlete, playing football, and basketball and Edie just loved him. The happy couple was married on July 7, 1957, in Petoskey at the Parr Memorial Baptist Church, where they were both members. Edie and Hal started their married life in Muskegon where Edie found work as a bank teller at Lumbermans Bank. Soon after, they started their family with the birth of their daughter, Bonnie in 1958, Nancy in 1960, and Glenn in 1961. Jeremy tagged along in 1976 completing the family of six. The family moved to Kansas City for a short time after Bonnie was born, but soon found themselves loading the car and trailer and heading back to Muskegon. Hal found work at the Paper Mill and Edie worked in administration at E.H. Sheldon, a company that made furniture for schools and laboratories. There were not enough hours in the day for Edie. Not only was she working outside the home, she was also taking care of the children and volunteering at church. Family dinner time was important to Edie, and with her famous fried chicken, potato salad and homemade pies it wasnt difficult to get the family to sit down at the table! Singing in the choir and performing in the holiday productions were activities Edie enjoyed at Calvary Baptist Church. She also found time to crochet and bead, making humorous beaded ladies called Trollups that she often sold at craft fairs. After E.H. Sheldons closed, Edie began a new career in real estate. Real estate was something that Edie excelled at, and she soon became owner of the Century 21 NOW office in Muskegon. She still found time to sing in various groups: the Celebration Singers, Grand Haven Chamber Choir, and White Lake festival Choir. Edie also developed a passion for the stage, performing with Muskegon Civic Theatre. Putting her strong musical talents to good use, Edie was cast in many shows including Guys and Dolls, Oklahoma, and Music Man, eventually earning solo parts. Throughout her life Edie shared a special bond with her sisters, Carol and Dorothy. There are hundreds of fun stories of their times together. They loved to laugh and sing together, sometimes acting just like little girls. They even took a trip to Tahiti together to celebrate a 50th birthday. Edie also took on the job of keeping the family tree records in order and organizing the family reunions. After retiring, Edie still remained as busy as ever. When Edie became a grandmother, she put her whole heart into the responsibility. Her children said she practically raised half of the grandkids. Edie was always willing to baby-sit, encourage and attend as many activities as possible for her grandchildren. Somehow Edie and Hal still found time for themselves. They liked to garden together and take walks to hunt for mushrooms or pretty rocks. And even though they were known to banter with each other, every one knew it was all in good fun. For their 50th wedding anniversary, Edie and Hal celebrated with a cruise. A few years ago Edie and Hal started wintering in Tavares, Florida, to get a break from the cold Michigan winters. They loved spending time there, along with her sisters and other friends. Unfortunately, it was coming back from a trip to Florida that Edie had an unexpected heart attack. Despite valiant efforts to help her, Edie died on May 1, 2008. Edie was a wonderful woman who devoted herself to her family, using her talents to encourage and provide for them. Her unending energy and beautiful voice touched so many. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her. Edie is survived her husband, Hal; 2 daughters, Bonnie (Dan Nichols) Richards of Muskegon & Nancy Schneider of Lakewood, CO; 2 sons, Glenn (Gail) Schneider of Muskegon & Jeremy (Marianne) Schneider of Muskegon; 16 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren; 2 sisters, Carol (Ken) Smith of Ravenna & Dorothy Mettee of Lakewood, CO & 1 brother, Harry "Ted" Baker of Kentucky. A Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, May 8, 2008, 11:00 AM at Clock Chapel in Muskegon with Pastor Lee Coggins officiating. Interment will be at at Sunrise Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Wednesday, 2-4 & 7-9 PM at Clock Life Story Funeral Home. MEMORIAL: Muskegon Civic Theatre. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to leave a memory or sign the online guest book.