Esther Meier was born on August 14, 1916 in Shattuck, Oklahoma, to Martha (Batt) and Alexander W. Meier. On June 21, 2011 at the age of 94, she went home to be with her Lord, at the Newman Memorial Hospital, Shattuck, Oklahoma.
Esther was almost four when her mother passed away. Along with her dad, she and Irene moved to Grandpa and Grandma’s farm, where the girls were raised with their aunts. Alex eventually married Cassie Ehrlich, and Floyd Calvin and Norma Jean were born into the family. Esther helped with caring for her siblings, household chores and milking the family cow. She always wanted to learn more and graduated from Shattuck High School in 1934. She lived through the dirty thirties and the depression and learned to be thrifty.
On July 28, 1940 she married Allen Schoenhals. This union was blessed with 5 children and lasted 63 years. After various jobs in Arnett and Shattuck, Esther went to work at the Newman Memorial Hospital and Clinic where she held numerous positions. Her longest tenure was as a medical secretary. Her job and her family filled her life. It wasn’t unusual to find extended family around her table and numerous relatives on the farm where there was room for lots of kids. She was a gracious hostess and a wonderful cook who will be missed greatly by family and friends.
Esther was preceded in death by her parents; her sister Norma Jean; her brother Cal, and her husband Allen.
She is survived by her sister, Irene Laubhan of Russell, KS; her aunt, Ruth Ehrlich of Shattuck; her 5 children, Doug of Shattuck; Don of Midwest City; Linda White and husband Carl of Broken Arrow; Jim of Shattuck; and Rick of Weatherford; 7 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to Shattuck Senior Citizens Center, Newman Memorial Hospital Foundation, or a charity of your choice in care of the Mason Funeral Home, P.O. Box 695 Shattuck, OK 73858. Funeral services were held on Saturday, June 25, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Shattuck, Oklahoma with Nick Dyer officiating, and Jess Willsie reading the obituary. Organist and soloist for the service was Bonnie Shepherd. Songs for the service were “In The Garden” and “Consider The Lilies”: Casket Bearers for the service were David Schoenhals, Clint Fisher, Michael White, Matt White, Michelle White and Chad Petree. Interment was in the Shattuck Memorial Cemetery with the Mason Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.