In Memory of Shirley McKee Shreiner

It is with great sadness that the Church Farm School shares that Shirley McKee Shreiner, wife of the late Dr. Charles Shreiner (our second Head of School), passed away on Thursday, July 25 at Dunwoody Village in Newtown Square, where she had resided for more than 25 years. She was 96 years old. Shirley is survived by her three children Charles W. Shreiner III (CFS’ third Head of School), longtime former CFS Board Member Stacey S. Kley (Bill), Alix S. Markee (Jim), eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Shirley was born in Jenkintown, PA, in 1928 and married her late husband Charlie (d. 2004) at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in 1951. They lived together at Church Farm School until Charlie’s retirement in 1987. Shirley served as the school’s “first lady,” a perpetual member of the CFS Board of Managers, a constant companion to Charlie and a common presence in our school and our scholars' lives. She attended sporting events, managed the Chapel and the Flower Guild, taught manners and etiquette courses to the students, helped with makeup for the annual Christmas Pageant and offered a listening ear when boys were homesick. Even when she was no longer able to participate in campus activities, she supported the boys as a Griffin Scholar sponsor. For her efforts on our behalf and unwavering love and loyalty, she received the J. Tyler Griffin Award for Ambassadorship in 2012.

 

In addition to her work at the Church Farm School, Shirley was a longtime member of the Junior League of Philadelphia where she sang in the Larks and worked in the Outgrown Thrift Shop. She was also a devoted member of the Valley Garden Club and a longtime volunteer at Chester County Hospital and the Devon Horse Show. In 1987 Shirley and Charlie retired to Cape May, NJ, where they became members of St. Peter’s Church at Cape May Point. They also spent time in Ft. Myers, FL, and joined St. Michael’s Episcopal Church on Sanibel Island where Shirley served as Co-Chair of the Ark for several years and where both she and Charlie spent countless hours volunteering. Shirley and Charlie enjoyed playing golf and entertaining family and friends at Kelly Greens.