Shirley I. McCord

1935 - 2023

Shirley I. McCord, 87, of Schuylkill Haven, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, May 18, at home surrounded by her family, after a bout with cancer.

Born Aug. 15, 1935, in North Manheim Twp., she was a daughter of the late Ellen (Yohe) and Norman Bensinger.

Shirley was the widow of Robert V. "Skeet" McCord, who passed away Aug. 10, 2013. They were married 59 years.

She was a member of St. Ambrose Roman Catholic Church, Schuylkill Haven, and the South Schuylkill Garden Club; a volunteer at Good Sam Hospital for 25 years; and was also a Girl Scout troop leader.

An entrepreneur, Shirley owned several businesses, including Piercing Pagoda and Merle Norman Cosmetics. She was also a real estate agent and owned and managed several apartment buildings in Schuylkill Haven.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her siblings, Norman, Bill and Ronnie Bensinger, Kay Reichert Sidella and Karen Wink.

Shirley is survived by three daughters, Kay "Pinky," wife of Tom Gilbert, of Tivoli, N.Y., Debbie, wife of Michael Matelan, of Emmaus, and Patricia, wife of Patrick Mehaffie, of Cape Coral, Fla.; a son, Patrick, husband of Sandra McCord, of Spokane, Wash.; grandchildren, Stacie Totman, Kimi Gilbert, Brooks and Kate Matelan and Hayley, James, Michael and John Mark McCord; great-grandchildren, Lauren, Christian and Patrick Totman and Lyla, Noah and Kylee Matelan; several nieces and nephews; and her beloved dog, Sophie.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 23, at St. Ambrose Roman Catholic Church in Schuylkill Haven, with the Rev. Monsignor Edward S. Zemanik officiating. A viewing will be held from 9:15 until 10:15 a.m. at the church. Interment will follow in St. Ambrose Cemetery, Schuylkill Haven. At Shirley's request, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be forwarded to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. To extend condolences online, visit www.gsesfuneralhomes.com. Geschwindt-Stabingas Ebling Funeral Home Inc., Schuylkill Haven, has been entrusted with arrangements.