Sylvia Jane Schumaker, 66, of Maquon, Illinois, died at 8:44 P.M. Saturday, January 2, 2016 at her home.
Sylvia was born on June 5, 1949 in Fulton, Callaway County, Missouri, the daughter of George Washington and Betty Lucille (Kemper) Knox. She was raised in the Douglas area, graduating from Yates City High School in 1967. She went to Midstate College in Peoria, Illinois. She started working for Great Central Insurance Company of Peoria in 1969 in a data entry position and moved up in position until she was head data processing clerk. She worked there until they moved the company to Texas in 2010. She then retired in July of 2010.
She met her husband Bill in 1978 in church. They were married on June 21, 1981 with all her nieces and nephews and Bill’s two children serving as a flower girl and ring bearer. She helped raise two stepchildren Mollee and Jay and was now enjoying her grandchildren. She also loved her nieces and nephews and their children. She loved shopping for gifts for the children on their birthdays, Christmas, and any other occasion.
Sylvia loved her cats and enjoyed having them sit on her lap. She would not let them out of the house because she did not want them to possibly get hurt. She enjoyed horseback riding and planning vacations with the step-children to places where they could horseback ride. She loved to tend to her flowers. She loved life and everyone in her world. She was loved by many and would help anyone in need.
She taught first and second grade Sunday school for about 10 years until her heath restricted her contact with children. She has taught an adult class for 15 years. She was active in United Methodist Women serving on district nomination committee for four years, chairing it the last two. At the local church level she was Treasurer, Mission Chairperson, Sunday school secretary, and served on Parish Help Fund Committee.
Surviving are her mother, Betty Knox of Fulton, Missouri; her husband, Bill of Maquon, Illinois; two step-children and step-grandchildren, Mollee (Kyle) Reiber and Rayna and Louie of Greeley, Colorado and Jay (Heather) Schumaker, and Henry, Charles, and William of Davis, California. She is also survived by her brothers, George (Linda) Knox of Ozark, Missouri, Dale (Jodene) Knox of Warrentown, Missouri, Walter (Stephanie) Knox of Maquon, Illinois, Paul (Tennessa) Knox of Maquon, Illinois, Glen (Starla) Knox of Holiday, Florida; sisters, Frances (Dale) Weir of Fulton, Missouri and Lola Stevens of Douglas, Illinois; nieces Shelly (Steve) Bloomer of Maquon, Illinois, Melinda (Josh) DeWees of Astoria, Illinois, Becky (Mike) DieKamp of Fulton, Missouri, Christy (Eric) Eshelman of Gilson, Illinois, Tasha Taylor of Pekin, Illinois, Alicia (Brandon) Provence of Elmwood, Illinois, Kelsey Knox of Macomb, Illinois, Megan Knox of West Peoria, Illinois; nephews, Josh (Shelly) Knox of Lees Summit, Missouri, Daniel (Colleen) Knox of Waukegan, Illinois, Christopher (Morgan) Weir of Washington, Illinois, Nathaniel (Amanda) Weir of Fulton, Missouri, Dustin (Acacia) Knox of London Mills, Illinois, Travis Knox of London Mills, Illinois, Shawn Knox of Rapatee, Illinois, Paul Knox of Maquon, Illinois, Samuel Knox of Holiday, Florida, and Ryan Stevens of Douglas, Illinois; and 23 great nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father and a nephew, Matthew Weir.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, January 6, 2015 at the Maquon United Methodist Church in Maquon, Illinois. Rev. Krey Leesman will officiate. Visitation will be from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, January 5, 2015 at the Maquon United Methodist Church in Maquon, Illinois. Cremation rites will be accorded following the services. Memorials may be made to the Maquon United Methodist Church. On-line condolences and sympathy cards may be sent through www.hurd-hendricksfuneralhome.com
