Bernice May Garland, nee Schoenfeld, passed peacefully Tuesday evening surrounded by her loving family. She is preceded in death by her parents, Edwin and Rosa (Bailey) Schoenfeld, one daughter Brenda Kay (Garland) Frederick, two brothers Albert L. Bailey, James E Schoenfeld Sr. and two sons-in-law, Walter Frederick and David Luttrell. Her husband, William E. Garland after 43 years of marriage left her side to be with his heavenly father in 2002.

Bernice was born on the Bailey Family Farm along the Little Indian Creek in Oak Grove, MO. She is also survived by two sisters, Helen McDermott of Sullivan, and Viola Marie Schoenfeld of Union.

She married her loving husband, William Garland, on January 10, 1959. To this union was born four children. Brenda (Walter) Frederick, Cheryl (David) White of Beaufort, Carolyn (David) Luttrell of Union, and Carl Garland, from St. Louis.

Bernice was a devout Christian who grew and was baptized within the Baptist faith. She was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Union for many years.

Bernice retired from Mercy Hospital in 2001 after thirty years of tending to the needs of laboring moms and newborn babies in the Labor, Delivery, and Nursery. She enjoyed welcoming new little ones into the world.

Bernice loved being surrounded by her four children, nine grandchildren, fourteen great grandchildren and a large number of nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.

She babysat and helped raise many additional children yet three special children were as close as her own, James Schoenfeld Jr. of Ekron, KY, Allen Pehle of Hermann and David Pehle of Union.

Bernice will be eternally loved and missed by her family and all who knew her.