Mary Schumacher | August 26, 1965 - August 28, 2023
Obituaries-Pierre / Posted Sep 1, 2023 | 6:56 AM / 535 views
Mary Schumacher, 58, of Pierre, passed away peacefully at home on the morning of August 28th 2023, after a nine-year battle with breast cancer. A visitation service will be held Tuesday, September 5, 2023 from 9:00 am to 10:00 am at Isburg Funeral Chapel in Pierre, with a funeral service beginning at 10:00am at Isburg Chapel. Burial is at Riverside Cemetery in Pierre. Following the graveside service, a reception will be held at the Pierre Senior Citizen Center. Please join us for snacks and drinks to celebrate and share in the joy of Mary’s life.
Mary Carol Turney was born on August 26th, 1965, in Jackson, Wyoming to George and Helen (Carlson) Turney. Mary grew up in Hardin Montana. As a young girl, Mary was active in CampFire Girls, achieving their highest honor. She graduated high school in 1983 and set her sights on working with kids by getting a degree in Recreation. That led to a job at Camp Bob Marshall near Custer, SD in 1984.
At Camp Bob, she met and fell in love with co-worker Keith Schumacher. The two married on October 1st, 1988 and built a family. Living in Milbank, Katie was born in 1989, and Lexie was born in 1991. By 1994, the young family had finally landed in Pierre. There, Mary operated a licensed daycare with a staff serving 20 kids who loved her. She also worked in the SD Office of Economic Development. What Mary really wanted though was to go back to school.
With that in mind, in 2003 the family moved to Murrieta, California where Mary attended Mt. San Jacinto College receiving an Associate’s Degree. She continued Cal State University at San Marcos, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Literature and Writing in 2009. And she was doing some serious multi-tasking… As teens, Katie and Lexie became older siblings, as the family grew with Grace (now 17) being born in 2006, and Libby, (now 14) born in 2008. Mary loved California sunsets, the beach, and going to Disneyland with all of her girls.
Eventually, it was time to move back to South Dakota. Miraculously, the family was able to re-purchase the house in Pierre they had sold in 2003, meaning they literally were moving home. Soon, the entire family was in Pierre again. Mary brought Grace and Libby to their new home in Pierre, and went to school with them, working as a teacher’s aide at Kennedy Elementary, a position she truly loved. She has also loved her work and the people at the South Dakota State Library where she was a digital librarian.
Her dedication to kids and community over the years is evidenced in her sewing projects and gifts. She made dozens of embroidery projects for many friends and family, and contributed her sewing talents to plays and performances for Georgia Morse Middle School, Riggs High School, the Pierre Players Community Theater, and for the Central South Dakota Skating Club. She was proud to put her “Mary Made It” tag in every garment.
Mary is survived by her husband, Keith Schumacher, daughters Katie Dwyer, Lexie, Grace, and Libby, and 6 grandchildren, Charlie, Henry, Alfred, Martin, Corinne, and Felix, in addition to her sisters Dawn Hayes, Patricia Liming, Bonnie Bley, brother, Edgar Turney, and mother Helen Turney. She was preceded in death by her father, George Turney, and her beloved grandparents Grace and Edgar Carlson of Meeteetse, Wyoming.
Mary’s battle with cancer started in California, and ended in Pierre, but she would not allow it to define her. She has inspired and shown the way for so many others. If you care to donate, please consider Michelle’s Place in Temecula California, or the Countryside Hospice support center in Pierre, or any breast cancer support organization where you live. These organizations were exceptionally helpful for Mary.
