Shirley Ann (nee Garrett) Schoonover passed away on May 25, 2023 at the age of 80 at Fort Lewis, Washington.   Shirley was the beloved and beautiful wife of Colonel (Ret.) James F. Schoonover, Jr.; loving mother of Carrie Lynn (nee Schoonover) Matthews (Tim), Michael Ian Schoonover (Jennifer), and Kyle Thomas Schoonover; proud grandmother of James Garrett Matthews, Emily Renee Matthews, Austin James Schoonover, Ali Marie (nee Schoonover) Worrell, Kaden Paul Schoonover, Piper Rain Schoonover, and Kyle Thomas Schoonover, Jr. She also has a sister, Dove Marie (nee Garrett) Bongartz who resides in Berlin, Germany.

Shirley was born in Nashville, Tennessee to Horace and Dove (Brodie) Garrett on February 10, 1943.  Twelve years later, her family moved to Atlanta, Georgia, then to Oak Park, Illinois where Shirley graduated high school.  She attended Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. Following her 1965 graduation, she taught high school history and English in the Fort Worth public school system.

In 1967 Shirley married West Point graduate Captain Jim Schoonover and became a proud military wife who for 28 years moved to numerous posts within the United States. Additional assignments included Berlin and Bad Kreuznach, Germany.  Shirley became adept at creating and re-creating homes for her family, an accomplishment under-appreciated by all but other military wives.  The three children were guided in adapting to each new environment – a monumental task to turn dread into happiness.  During Jim's second assignment to Vietnam, Shirley completed her Master's Degree in History at Auburn University.  She combined family responsibilities with part-time teaching of U.S. history at Northern Virginia Community College, and at the University of Maryland in Berlin.  Additionally, she created a craft business which could successfully follow Jim's military assignments.

Finally, with Jim's retirement, the couple and their children made their "forever home" in Steilacoom, Washington, a quaint, historic coastal town 60 miles south of Seattle.  Shirley became a full-time teacher at Clover Park Technical College in nearby Lakewood where she provided courses for adults completing a high school diploma.  The family had previously enjoyed touring opportunities either together or individually while stationed in Germany.  Once established in Steilacoom, Jim and Shirley satisfied their wanderlust with trips to locations around the world.  Both together and individually the pair claimed 31 countries, 10 territories, and 1 city state among their accomplishments. Other interests ensued. Having studied piano for many years, Shirley was an accomplished pianist.  Her interest in music led the couple to become years-long season ticket holders for the Seattle Symphony, regularly turning a single night's concert into weekend mini-vacations.  Besides the arts, Shirley was an avid "antiquer," a logical extension of her history education. Hooked on country auctions while stationed in Pennsylvania, she became a collector of early Americana – a passion whose appeal never wavered.

As per her request, a simple graveside service at the Tahoma National Cemetery will be performed.  Her love and devotion to her husband, children, and grandchildren will remain a constant memory and the extensive genealogy work she completed later in life provides an invaluable legacy.