Scher, Mary E. was called to Heaven on February 3, 2021, at the age of 98. Mary was born on October 26, 1922 the daughter of the late Henry and Naoma (Boecke) Handke of Illinois. On July 27, 1946, Mary married Calvin E. Scher and they were married for 55 years. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, husband and sisters, Martha Todd and Ruth Shipp. Mary is survived by both of her daughters, Beth (Mike) Metcalf of St. Louis and Mary Ann (Rick) Nicka also of St. Louis, two grandsons Ryan (Candace) Metcalf of St. Louis and Blair (Kate Faulkner) Metcalf and their son, Alder, of Seattle, WA. Mary went to Concordia Lutheran Teachers College in River Forest, IL graduating with a teaching certificate. She was initially a kindergarten teacher in a St. Louis Lutheran school. She went back to college to earn a Bachelor's Degree from then Harris Teachers College while being a wife and mother and later earned a Master's Degree in Primary Education from Webster University. She retired from the Riverview Gardens School District after 24 years of service teaching in either kindergarten or first grade. She was a long time member of Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Chesterfield, and was an active member of Heather Rose Garden Club for several decades. Becoming a Grandma and Great-Grandma brought her life new joy and excitement. It was mutual adoration from the start. Mom loved teaching especially Kindergarten, gardening, ceramics, travel, playing Bridge, long car rides with Dad "bug hunting" (random exploring in the car) and she made every effort to keep in touch with nieces and nephews. Mom has been a resident of Friendship Village Chesterfield, MO for the last 12 years. A special Thank You to Janie Patcha, her beautician and friend, for coming to Friendship Village to cut Mom's hair for 11 years; to Bev Klindworth for years of weekly visits to Friendship Village in faith and friendship including what seemed like non-stop fragrant Stargazer Lilies; and Heartland Hospice for extra care and compassion even with Covid-19 restrictions. Mom will be greatly missed by her girls, family, friends, many nieces and nephews and her canine friend, Mocha.

Mom was an incredibly strong woman with a solid faith, who managed to survive 47 weeks of isolation from her family due to COVID-19 Restrictions. She simply stated her circumstances, "I just have endure this". Please continue to endure this pandemic in her honor.

Services: Due to Covid-19 and family wishes, services and interment are private, Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial to St. Louis Society for the Blind , 8770 Manchester Rd., St. Louis, MO 63144, Missouri Botanical Garden , 4344 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63110 or the charity of the donor's choice.​ A service of the SCHRADER Funeral Home and Crematory. Friends may sign the family's on-line guestbook at Schrader.com.