Mary Lee Schutte

SCHUTTE, Mary Lee O'Neal, 102, went to be with the Lord on April 27, 2010. She is survived by three sons, William A. Schutte Jr., and his wife, Elizabeth T. Schutte, of Chesterfield, Robert Lee Schutte of Richmond and Dr. Thomas D. Schutte of Pensacola, Florida; four grandchildren, Donna S. Cowardin and her husband, L. James Cowardin Jr., of Woodbridge, William A. Schutte III and his wife, Patti Lou Riker, of Batesville, Kathy S. Shereda and her husband, Paul J. Shereda, of Dinwiddie, and Lisa S. Moran of Powhatan; four great-grandchildren, Elizabeth C. Johnson and her husband, Phillip Johnson, L. James Cowardin III, Kathryn E. Moran and Angela R. Moran; one great-great-granddaughter, Amanda Marie Johnson. She was born in Hertford, North Carolina, on June 7, 1907, and celebrated her 100th birthday in the presence of her loving family in 2007. She was an inspiration to her family, loved ones and friends, with her knowledge, her wit and her sense of humor. She cherished her family and invested much of her life in her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her leisure travels took her all over the world. Her career accomplishments in Richmond include having been a hostess and restaurant manager of the Richmond Hotel, purchasing manager of Carpel Kraft Corporation, manager of White's Restaurant, owner operator of Schutte's Diner, and until her retirement in 1968, she was the manager of Jay Aldon's Dress Shop on Broad Street. She loved to cook and many family celebrations were held around her dinner table. She was an excellent seamstress and sewed dresses for her granddaughters as they were growing up. She crocheted as well, and made blankets, clothing, kitchen items, Christmas decorations and especially toys for her great-grandchildren. She loved gardening, nature, wrote beautiful poetry and was an artist as well. Her hands were never idle. One of the legacies she passed on to her family was her love and belief in her Lord and her need to turn to Him in prayer for all of her needs. The family will receive friends on Friday, April 30, 2010, from 12 to 2 at Nelsen Funeral Home & Crematory, 4650 S. Laburnum Ave., Richmond, Va. Graveside services and interment to follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery.



This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.