Mary Lou Schooler

1928 - 2016

SCHOOLER

Mary Lou Schooler, age 88, passed away on October 3, 2016, at El Castillo in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Born May 5, 1928 in Frankfort, Kentucky, where she spent her childhood and lived as a young adult, she was the youngest daughter of the late Sarah Curry Redding. Mary Lou loved learning from an early age. She graduated with honors and was named Salutatorian of Elkhorn High School in 1946. World War II had a powerful impact on her life as her older brother and father figure, Daniel Boone Redding, was abroad throughout her high-school years. With men off fighting a worldwide war, she witnessed the empowerment of women in the workforce, which left a lasting impression and influenced her strong work ethic. After the war and her graduation, Mary Lou was employed by the head of the Kentucky Department of Education. It was an exciting time for a young and ambitious woman, as the Department of Education, located in the Kentucky State Capitol was abuzz with political activity and optimism after the war. She found her daily walks through the classical French interior and particularly the elaborate marble staircase modeled after the Opéra Garnier in Paris, to be inspirational. In July 1950, Mary Lou married Charles Edward Schooler in Frankfort, where she continued her career, supporting Charles's education while he attended Transylvania College in Lexington. They raised three children, moving to Louisville, then Lexington, Kentucky and finally settling in Hyde Park in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1969. From 1969 to 1999, Mary Lou pursued a career as a Client Service Specialist at CT Corporation, a subsidiary of Wolters Kluwer, assisting lawyers with the details of incorporating and qualifying corporations statewide. She retired at the age of 71. She was a proud, protective and loving mother always enthusiastically sharing her children's daily activities and supporting their endeavors. She sewed wonderful Halloween costumes, made wardrobes for Barbie dolls, designed matching mother and daughter outfits, and helped deliver newspapers on her son's first paper route, which required taking many "short-cuts" through the neighborhood. An avid walker and voracious reader of books, she also enjoyed tending her lawn and gardens, continuing to take care of them herself until her early 80s. Although Mary Lou lived most of her adult life in Cincinnati, she was very proud of her Kentucky roots and being named a Kentucky Colonel, an honorary title bestowed by the sitting Governor of the Commonwealth to individuals displaying strength of character, leadership and dedication to the welfare of others. She enjoyed attending horse races at Keeneland in Lexington and celebrating her birthday on Derby Day with family and "one" mint julep. She was always moved by the lyrics of "My Old Kentucky Home," which plays as the horses step onto the track for the Kentucky Derby post parade. Mary Lou is deeply missed by her three children: daughter Susan Shelby Maginniss (Chris) of Morgan, Vermont; daughter Jennifer Rush Adams (Kirk) of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and son Stephen Edward Schooler (Sybil) of Cincinnati, Ohio, and her grandchildren: Rawson Cameron Adams, Haley Lynn Schooler and Charles Woodward Schooler, who dearly loved their Grammy. She is preceded in death by her husband, Charles Edward Schooler, brother Daniel Boone Redding, sister Ersie Mae Redding Thornton, and brother Elmer Lee (Jake) Redding. Graveside services will be held at the Schooler Family plot on Friday, October 21, at 11:00 AM in the Owenton I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Owenton, Kentucky, followed by a final toast to this special woman at Elk Creek Vineyards. Our sincerest warm-hearted thanks and love to Schone Walker, her caregiver in Cincinnati, and to those in Santa Fe who provided patient and loving care. We will remember the many lessons Mary Lou taught us in the power of strength, persistence and grace. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association (http://www.alz.org) or an organization of your choice.