Barbara E. Carlson-Shawl

Barbara departed for her eternal home on July 27th 2013 with her daughters by her side at Lakeland Specialty Hospital in Berrien Springs Michigan. A Celebration of Life Eternal will be held 7:00 P.M. Wednesday, July 31, 2013 at 7:00 P.M. Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, with Rev. Bill Shepard officiating. Friends may visit with the family from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions can be made to Hospice at Home or the Alzheimer’s Association of Michigan. Those wishing to sign Barbara’s Memory book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com Barbara was born August 28th 1931 to Conrad and Elizabeth Carlson in Janesville Wisconsin. She graduated from Wausau Senior High School in Wausau Wisconsin in 1949. Barbara married Roger Shawl in 1951 in Wausau and they moved to Michigan in 1958. Barbara attended Lake Michigan College and later obtained a bachelors degree in History and English along with a Masters degree and Teaching certificate from Western Michigan University. She was employed as a substitute teacher for several years for Benton Harbor Area Schools. Barbara worked as a legal secretary for Butzbaugh and Ehrenberg and later at Straub Seaman and Allen in St. Joseph Michigan. In 1981 Barbara moved to Houston and there she worked for First City Bank until she retired. Barbara loved horses and especially Pico and Tiger her beloved buddies. She became a licensed massage therapist specializing in Horse therapy and spent a lot of time travelling to attend to others horses. She also had a love for music and played the cello in the Twin Cites Pops Orchestra and also played piano and guitar and wrote some of her own music. She loved to read, you could always find her with a book in her hand. She is survived by children Elizabeth Shawl-Hall of Cypress, Texas, Roger Shawl Jr. of San Diego, California, Patricia (Doug) Needles of Berrien Springs, Mi., Mary (Dan) Shawl-Ranke of Stevensville, Mi. Grandchildren Steven Needles, Elise Krieger and Evan Krieger. Nephews and Nieces, Jeff, Steve, Barbara, Katherine and Kristin. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents and a brother Robert Carlson. Barbara will not only be missed by her family and friends but also by her family in the Beachwood Unit at Lakeland Specialty Hospital in Berrien Springs who cared for her the last 2 and a half years with such love and kindness.