1929
Jean
2016
Jean Schira
March 17, 1929 — June 2, 2016
Jean Schira, age 87, passed peacefully on Thursday, June 2, 2016, at Trudy’s Home in Battle
Creek, where she had resided for the past year. She was born on March 17, 1929 in Jonesboro,
Arkansas, the daughter of Lee and Letha (Coker) McGuire. Jean graduated in 1945 from
Murphy’s High School in Mobile, Alabama, and relocated with her parents to Marshall, MI.
She worked for the Marshall Evening Chronicle newspaper before her marriage to her husband,
Raymond Schira, on May 28, 1948, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Battle Creek. After her
marriage, Jean was a homemaker until starting Ray’s Optical with her husband in Battle Creek in
1977, where she was co-owner and business manager. In her free time, she enjoyed shopping,
traveling, trying out new restaurants, spending time with her grandchildren, and was an avid
Detroit Pistons fan. Her husband preceded her in death in 2003. She is survived by her two
daughters: Linda DeHaan of Portage and Susan (Jerry) Hale of Battle Creek; two sons: Gary
(Kerryn) Schira of Battle Creek and Scot Schira of Marshall; eight grandchildren and fifteen
great grandchildren. Visitation will be Sunday from 2-4 PM at the Richard A. Henry Funeral
Home, with cremation to follow. A private graveside service will be held at Fort Custer National
Cemetery at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice.
www.henryfuneralhome.org
Creek, where she had resided for the past year. She was born on March 17, 1929 in Jonesboro,
Arkansas, the daughter of Lee and Letha (Coker) McGuire. Jean graduated in 1945 from
Murphy’s High School in Mobile, Alabama, and relocated with her parents to Marshall, MI.
She worked for the Marshall Evening Chronicle newspaper before her marriage to her husband,
Raymond Schira, on May 28, 1948, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Battle Creek. After her
marriage, Jean was a homemaker until starting Ray’s Optical with her husband in Battle Creek in
1977, where she was co-owner and business manager. In her free time, she enjoyed shopping,
traveling, trying out new restaurants, spending time with her grandchildren, and was an avid
Detroit Pistons fan. Her husband preceded her in death in 2003. She is survived by her two
daughters: Linda DeHaan of Portage and Susan (Jerry) Hale of Battle Creek; two sons: Gary
(Kerryn) Schira of Battle Creek and Scot Schira of Marshall; eight grandchildren and fifteen
great grandchildren. Visitation will be Sunday from 2-4 PM at the Richard A. Henry Funeral
Home, with cremation to follow. A private graveside service will be held at Fort Custer National
Cemetery at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice.
www.henryfuneralhome.org
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