Martha Vera Schilling

Date of Death: March 30, 2011

Martha Vera “Marty” Schilling, died of breast cancer on March 30, 2011, at her home in West Lafayette, following a three months illness. Born in Lafayette on April 5, 1951, she was the daughter of George T. and Barbara W. Schilling of West Lafayette, and the mother of Kate White Schilling of Indianapolis.

Marty was raised in West Lafayette and graduated from West Lafayette High School in 1970 and from Indiana University in 1975 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fine Art Photography. She worked as a staff photographer at Purdue University and as studio manager and photographer for a photographic services company in Santa Fe, NM. She owned and operated a professional photography studio in Traverse City, MI for several years and created a successful family portraiture business covering a wide area. Returning to the Lafayette area, she joined the Shook Agency and enjoyed fifteen successful years as a residential real estate agent until retiring because of a physical disability. Later she managed the Curves women?s fitness facility in West Lafayette and served in other capacities for other Curves franchises.

She was a member of Pickwick Club in Lafayette and active in other social groups and in various professional real estate and fundraising organizations. She was a member and served as secretary, treasurer and director of the National Association of Mental Health (NAMI WCI).

She loved art and music. Some of her many extraordinary photographs were exhibited in the Greater Lafayette Museum of Art and in the Round the Court House Fair. Her artistic talents also produced drawings and, in later years, hand-knitted scarfs.

Her family and wide circle of friends knew and loved her as a joyful, spirited, friendly, fun-loving woman, who was devoted to her daughter and loyal to her family and friends.

Surviving with her daughter and parents are her sister Carolyn S. Gery (husband Michael E. Gery) of West Lafayette, her brother George W. Schilling of Kingsley, MI, her nephew Michael S. Gery of West Lafayette, her uncle Dr. Richard J. Schilling (wife Barbara) of Glen Lake, MI, and her nephews in love Jeffery V. Gery (wife Nina) of Fort Wayne and Douglas P. Gery of Nashville TN

Family and friends will celebrate her life at a time and place to be announced later. Memorial contributions may be made to charities of choice. Please share memories online with her daughter at kskatewhite@gmail.com, and/or with her parents at gtschilling19@gmail.com or with her sister at crsgery@aol.com.

Soller-Baker Funeral Homes entrusted with care.

Soller-Baker Funeral Homes, Inc.

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Dear Barbara, George, Kate, Carolyn, and other family members of Marty,

I am writing to say I am very sorry for your loss. Marty was a wonderful person, a dear and generous friend, and I miss her very much. I learned a lot from her, and I hope to always remember it and put it into practice in my life.

With lots of love,

Dana

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.