Sharon Lee Schrader

Sharon “Shoo” Lee Schrader, 66, of Benton Harbor, passed away Thursday, July 19, 2007, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph, with family and friends by her side. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:00 A.M., Monday, July 23, 2007, at Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph with Rev. Wade Panse officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family from 3:00 to 5:00 P.M., Sunday, at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made in Sharon’s name to the Humane Society of Southwest Michigan. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com Sharon was born on March 8, 1941, in St. Joseph. She was one of four children born to Carl and Lorraine Schrader. In her youth, she spent her days at the Union Park Ballfield playing baseball and was the only female player within the leagues. Sharon proceeded to graduate with honors from Benton Harbor High School in 1959. She received the Tiscornia Awards Scholarship for her academic achievements. After graduation she attended Michigan State University and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in 1963. She went on to teach Physical Education in Cleveland, Ohio, in the Cleveland Heights School District. Sharon later returned to Benton Harbor to be with her family and was employed in the Garden Center at Meijer and as a Lab Technician at LECO Corporation. In her leisure time Sharon enjoyed traveling and antiquing. Sharon is survived by her sister, Wendy (Chris) Knapp of St. Joseph; brother, Jim (Barbara) Schrader of Apopka, FL; beloved niece, Melinda Marshall of St. Joseph; and special cousin, Pat Wenzlaff of Stevensville. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Thomas Schrader.