Lila Mae Schultz

Lila Mae Schultz was one of those special people who appreciated the many things that make life so valuable - family, friends and faith. A devoted wife, mother and grandmother, Lila lived in harmony with her beliefs, knowing that nothing was more important than the love of her family.

The year was 1921, Douglas Fairbanks starred in the "Mark of Zorro" and Franklin D. Roosevelt was stricken with polio. That same year on April 14, a baby girl was born in Sheridan Township, Michigan, the daughter of Dewey and Fern (Stewart) Brandenburg and they named her Lila Mae. The oldest of four girls, Lila grew up in the company of her sisters, Helen, Doris and Donna Jean, with whom she remained very close throughout her life. The four of them undoubtedly filled the house with their share of laughter, spats and wonderful memories.

The Brandenburg home was next door to the Mason County schoolhouse, where Lila's mother was a teacher. Her father earned a living operating an Oldsmobile and Willey's car dealership in nearby Custer. Lila was always a willing helper around the house, caring for her sisters, helping in the garden and carrying ice from nearby Round Lake to the house to be stored in sawdust for the summer months. She attended Bachelor School through the 8th grade, Scottville High School until the 11th grade, and graduated from Custer High School in 1938. Since her father worked at the dealership, Lila was one of the first students to drive a car, and she would pick her friends up for school each day.

During her senior year at Custer High School, Lila met fellow student, Donald Schultz, and they were friends. It wasn't until their senior trip to Mackinaw Island that a romance blossomed between the two while riding bikes around the island. After graduating, Lila went on to attend Beauty College in Muskegon while Don enrolled in Western Michigan University. She later moved to Detroit and lived with Don's mother while operating Lila Mae's Beauty Shop. Shortly after moving, Lila and Don were happily married on June 27, 1942. Though their time together as newlyweds was cut short when Don was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Corp, where he served during World War II.

After Don's honorable discharge in 1945, he returned home to his wife in Detroit and went to work as an accountant for Greyhound Bus Lines. Soon thereafter, the couple delighted in the birth of their first son, James, in 1946, followed by their second son, Kerry, in 1949. In 1955, the family of four moved back to Lila's hometown in Mason County, where they welcomed the birth of their third son, Kirk, in 1957. To support his family, Don became partners with Lila's father in his car dealership. After his father-in-law retired, Don went to work as a clerk for the Road Commission. Meanwhile, Lila operated the Custer Beauty Shop for over 19 years, before going to work for Margaret Reader at the Villager Beauty Shop. After 52 years as a beautician, Lila retired in 1993.

Lila was a wonderful mother. Her heart never emptied of love for her family and she was said to have the patience of a saint. Having three boys, she learned to be patient very quickly. She enjoyed being Den Mother when her boys were in Cub Scouts and she always stressed the importance of having strong faith to her sons. Lila was an active member of Scottville United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women. For Lila, family was the greatest source of happiness in her life. She especially loved the holidays for this represented an opportunity for all of her family to come together. They were the shining beacons in her life and she was in her glory surrounded by their love and smiles.

As a wife and mother, Lila had many talents around the house. She was an excellent cook and baker and even had a cake decorating business when they lived in Detroit, where she made many wedding cakes. Her family was especially fond of her homemade Lemon Meringue Pie, which she whipped with a fork; she never used a mixer. Though her fresh breads, Christmas cookies, candy, fudge at Halloween, peanut butter balls and bean casserole were really close seconds to her family's favorites. Whatever Lila made, it always beckoned her family to the table. Through the years, Lila collected hundreds of recipes, but she was sure to hand down her bean casserole recipe to her granddaughters to carry on. At Christmas time, Lila enjoyed sharing the cookie baking with her grandchildren - it was a happy time for all. She and Don enjoyed entertaining in their home and there was always friends and family over to enjoy their warm hospitality.

When she wasn't in the kitchen, Lila loved to knit, a task that was good for her arthritic hands. In fact, just this week, with the help of her daughter-in-law, Lila finished Church Window afghans for each of her sons; a gift they will forever treasure. Lila and Don also loved to travel and visited many places around the United States, as well as making two trips to Germany to visit their sons who were stationed there at different times in their military experiences. After Don's death, Lila had other opportunities to travel, journeying to Hawaii, Ireland, and England with friends and granddaughter Jamie, as well as traveling to Florida with her sisters. As a friend, Lila was faithful, loving and loyal. She held fast to lifelong friendships such as those she had with Eleanor Reader and Lorraine Keson. Above all else, Lila loved to be surrounded by her family and loved spending her time being a wife, mother and grandmother to the people who brought her life extraordinary joy. She will be deeply missed and remembered often.

Lila Mae Schultz passed away on Friday, September 9, 2005, at her home surrounded by her family. She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald, on February 17, 1979. She will be remembered by her sons: Jim (Linda) Schultz of Muskegon, Kerry Schultz of Fountain, and Kirk (Madonna) Schultz of Custer; her grandchildren: Michelle (Kenn) Kott, Jamie Schultz, Renee (Garvin) Yorton, Kristen (Eric) Robinson, Robyn (Jack) King, Timothy Schultz, Christopher Schultz, and Amanda (Brian) Underwood; her great-grandchildren: Emilee, Natalee, Kenny and Kevin Kott, Branda, Garrett and Olivia Yorton, Alyssa and Leah Robinson, Brendan Frieders, Corrina, Zachary, and Jackson King, and Austen Underwood; her sisters: Helen (Vernon) Michael of Coopersville, Doris (Dana) Reid of Free Soil, and Donna Jean (Mervin) McVicker of Fountain; and many nieces, nephews and great friends. She will be greatly missed by her family, her church and her community.

A Celebration of Life service will be held for Lila at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, September 12, at the Scottville United Methodist Church with her good friend, Rev. Norm Letsinger, and her pastor, Rev. Bob Jones, officiating. Burial will take place at Lakeview Cemetery in Ludington. Friends may meet with her family for a time of visitation on Sunday, September 11, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Stephens Life Story Funeral Home in Scottville. Please visit Lila's personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may leave a memory for her family, sign the guestbook or make a memorial contribution to either the Scottville United Methodist Church or Hospice of Michigan ~ Mason County.