Martha Irma (Surley) Schuster passed away August 17, 2008 in Dallas, Texas at the age of 83. She was aware of family and friends until the last hours, at UT Southwestern University Hospital- Saint Paul, after 5-weeks in Intensive Care. Her paternal grandparents, Karl M. and Martha Anders (Sorli) Surley, and maternal grandparents Peder O. and Ingeborg Nygaard were immigrants from Norway and settled in the Norwegian settlement of Norse near Clifton, Texas, west of Waco. Her parents, Oscar and Katie Surley purchased a farm in Crawford, Texas, where her older brother Clarence P. Surley was born. Prior to the Great Depression, Oscar and Katie moved to Dallas, Texas and purchased a home at 605 West Eighth Street, in the new development of Oak Cliff. Oscar worked for the Continental Gin Company, and Katie worked for a hat and furrier company. Martha Irma was born December 17, 1924, and her younger brother Kenneth Oliver Surley was born March 28, 1926, at the Dallas home. The Great Depression was a lasting memory, when they briefly lost their home. At age eleven, Martha’s highlight was the 1936 Texas Centennial. She was confirmed at Central Lutheran Church on June 2, 1940. She graduated from Adamson High School in 1943. During World War II, she worked for the US Postal service in the payroll department while living at home. In 1947, Mobil Oil transferred her brother Clarence to the office of the Mobil Oil Refining Plant, Beaumont, Texas. Clarence lived at a rooming house where he met Fred William Schuster and invited Martha to come meet him. Frederick William Schuster was born November 19, 1919 in Farrell, Pennsylvania to Martin and Katharina Schuster, immigrants from the German settlement of Transylvania (Romania). Fred Schuster was employed in September, 1939 with the engineering department of the Petroleum Iron Works, which was purchased by the United States Steel Corporation. In 1944, Fred was transferred to the Beaumont U.S. Steel Products Division as Purchasing Agent. The plant subsequently moved to Port Arthur, Texas. Martha Irma Surley, age 23, married Fred William Schuster, age 28, on March 20, 1948 in a wedding at Central Lutheran Church, followed by a reception at the Stoneleigh Hotel in Dallas, Texas. The bride had a bride’s maid luncheon at the Adolphus Hotel and her wedding dress was from Neiman Marcus, where her younger brother and cousin worked. Martha worked several years at the Beaumont Ship Yard in accounting. Their first new home was constructed at 3050 Timberwood Lane in Beaumont. They became members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 777 North Fourth Street; Pastor Clifton August Woytek was their pastor for thirty-seven years. Fred encouraged the reluctant Martha to quit work and become a mother. On December 19, 1954, Martha gave birth to her only son, Paul Mark Schuster. She grew into her new role and became a “wonderful” and “loving” mother. She and Fred’s lives revolved around family and the church. She was active in all aspects of the church and for a time was the Church Secretary. Martha’s greatest joy was preparing for Christmas, when she often made stuffed toys or clothing for her nephew’s children.
In 1958, Fred and Martha won a city wide Christmas decoration contest, with yard scenes and lighting created by Fred and Martha dressed as Santa Claus playing a organ in the bay window. For Martha the home was her domain and she excelled at trying new things, whether cooking, sewing, or making gifts for family and friends. Her home was always spotless, and never a thing was out of place, not even Paul Mark’s toys. She continued long loving and caring relationships with the older women of the church who were like mothers to her to her when she first came to Beaumont. Her ability to remember birthdays and frequents letters kept a close circle of friends. In 1976, Paul Mark graduated from Texas Lutheran University, Seguin, Texas and moved to Dallas, Texas. In 1978, Fred was honored at the Sabine-Neches Chapter of the National Association of Purchasing Management, a member since 1946. Paul Mark at the banquet gave his parents a trip to Europe, the only trip they took together outside the US. They visited family in Norway and Germany, and toured other countries. So began a game of one-up-man-ship. Fred and Martha gave Paul Mark a new car; Paul Mark in turn gave them a new car. This continued for years. In 1982, Fred retired from U.S. Steel with forty-two years of service. He was Director of Purchasing for six plants at the time. In retirement Fred had several Purchasing Consulting jobs at area chemical companies and built a lake front vacation home at Ivanhoe, forty-five minutes north of Beaumont, where he and Martha would entertain friends. October 3, 1983, Paul Mark joined the Dallas Police Department. In 1987, Martha insisted on moving back to Dallas, to be near family and Paul Mark. They sold their home in Beaumont, and moved to a newly constructed home in DeSoto, Texas. They joined Oak Cliff Lutheran Church, where her parents and brother had been charter members. Fred worked seven years in purchasing at the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, in Dallas. Fred also perfected his passion for art, creating oil paintings, pastels, and woodcarving. Fred and Martha also volunteered at the North Texas Food Pantry. In 1995, Paul Mark was tasked with developing plans and a strategy for a new DALLAS POLICE HEADQUARTERS. In both 1995 and 1998, bond projects were funded only if they had a large number of requests from citizens. At the request for help from Paul Mark, in both 1995 and 1998, Martha and Fred elicited the help of family and friends and attended every possible public meeting. As a result of their efforts the Dallas Police Headquarters was one of the frequently requested projects, and received funding in both bond elections totaling $58.9 million. In 2000, Fred created a carved three-foot “Police Badge” that was used as a backdrop in Press Conferences. In 2001, they were honored by the Police Department. Upon completion of the Jack Evans Police Headquarters in 2003, Fred at age 83, created a carved eight-foot badge weighing 300 pounds that is suspended in the building’s largest meeting room. Fred also did historical research and documented pictures used in six art bronze plaques on the building’s plaza. Such projects would not have been possible, without the loving support of Martha Irma Schuster. On March 22, 1998, Fred and Martha celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary, at the Crescent Court Hotel, in Dallas. On December 5, 2005, after fifty-seven years of marriage, Fred W. Schuster passed away, at age 86. Her brother, Clarence P. Surley, precedes Martha in death. She is survived by her only son, Paul Mark Schuster and Kathleen Grayson, of Richardson; brother, Kenneth Oliver Surley and wife, Patrica, of Dallas; sister-in-law, Evelyn Surley, of Arlington; sister-in-law, Betty Schuster, of Wheatland, Pennsylvania; cousin, Ragnhild Surley, of Dallas; niece, Karen Dawson, of Dalworthington Gardens; and numerous cousins; nephews; nieces; grand nieces; grand nephews; great grand nieces; and great grand nephews. Pallbearers will be Ron Surley, Rick Surley, Randy Surley, Jacques Simms, David Walker, Nathan Surley, Joshua Surley, and Peter Surley.
A gathering of family and friends will be from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Thursday, August 21, 2008 at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin, Beaumont.
Funeral service will be 10:00 A.M. Saturday, August 23, 2008 at Oak Cliff Lutheran Church, 2550 West Illinois Avenue Dallas, Texas 75233 under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin, Beaumont. A gathering of family friends will begin at 9:00 A.M. Saturday prior to the service at the church. Lunch will follow the service for family and friends.
A graveside service will be 3:30 P.M. Saturday, August 23, 2008 at Trinity Cemetery in Clifton, Texas (Hwy. 6 west of Waco).
Memorials contributions may be made to Oak Cliff Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, or the charity of your choice.
