Verna ZAHLOUT

ZAHLOUT Verna Mae, passed away on March 2, 2005 at home with her family in Highland, New York at age 89. The daughter of David and Emma (Wedel) Schrag, Verna Mae Schrag was born on August 24, 1915, and was raised in Kansas. As both a prolific choral and keyboard music arranger and accomplished pianist and organist, her musicianship encompassed many venues. She was staff pianist for WMBI radio station, she toured as accompanist for the New England Fellowship trio from 1934 to 1941, and for violinist Alfred Zahlout, whom she married in 1941. Al and Verna's performances were featured regularly on Percy Crawford's Young People's Church of the Air national radio broadcasts and at his Pinebrook Conferences in New England. As a performance team, the couple had several syndicated radio and television shows and toured extensively, with Verna later utilizing her skills for the Zahlout family ensemble. She also later held the position of choral arranger, staff pianist and secretar for the Covenant First Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati, Ohio between 1967 and 1992. Verna was a great lady whose strong character rendered her incapable of malice, self-pity or vanity. Her modesty, generous and unsuspecting good nature, industriousness, composure in the face of hardship, and her kindly and dignified bearing were qualities that elicited respect, love and admiration from those who worked with and knew her. Her elegant and classical pianistic style, coupled with the ability to transpose to any key at will, along with her compositional skills, formed the basis for the unique inspirational nature of the Zahlout team performances. For both her musical contributions and her graciousness, Verna Zahlout will long be remembered and revered. Verna Zahlout is survived by four daughters and one son, one sister and two brothers, and two granddaughters. She was predeceased by her husband, two sisters and one brother. Arrangements are by the Sutton Funeral Home of Highland, New York. Sevices are private. Entombment is at the Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, Ohio.