Shirley I. (Bensinger) Mccord

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

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

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

She was a member of St. Ambrose Roman Catholic Church, Schuylkill Haven, 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.

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

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

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, May 23rd at St. Ambrose Roman Catholic Church in Schuylkill Haven with Rev. Msgr. Edward S. Zemanik officiating. A viewing will be held at the church from 9:15 until 10:15 AM. Interment will follow at St. Ambrose Cemetery, Schuylkill Haven.

At Shirley's request, in lieu of flowers memorial donations may be forwarded to St. Jude Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105.