Georgia J. Schnake's Obituary
Georgia (Jemy) Jemima Schnake, 99, of Decatur, died peacefully on September 12, 2024, with family by her side.
Jemy was born on July 28, 1925 to Millard Wesley Whitt and Mary Ella (Riley) at her grandmother’s house in Graves County, KY.
She grew up in the countryside during the great depression with many cousins and was especially close with her grandmother. Her family survived the depression with the money earned from her granddaddy’s tobacco and wheat crops and with income earned by all the adults in the family who went to Paducah to work.
After high school, Jemy worked as a telephone operator and secretary. She met the love of her life, William (Bill) Schnake, when she was working in Paducah as a secretary at an engineering firm. Bill was in Paducah, building a bridge, and came into the office where Jemy worked one day. That evening, Bill told his friend that he was going to marry her one day. They married on September 4, 1954. Jemy and Bill had two children, Harry Edward Orr and John Wesley Schnake.
Jemy and Bill moved to Decatur in 1960. Jemy enjoyed hosting family reunions, barbeques, and trips. Her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren spent countless hours at her homestead swimming and playing on her land.
Jemy was a beautiful soul with the kindest heart who let every person she met know how special they were. For decades, she devoted much of her time volunteering at the Decatur Memorial Hospital thrift store. Jemy was also a passionate bridge player. She was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Decatur.
Jemy was preceded in death by her husband; son, Harry (Ed) Orr; grandson, Christopher Marc Orr; and brother, Phillip Whitt. She is survived by her son, John (Pam) Schnake; granddaughter-in-law, Diane Orr; grandson, Travis (Michele) Orr; granddaughter, Aimee (Eric) Smith; grandson, Mark (Lucretia) Schnake; grandson, David Schnake; granddaughter, Katherine Schnake; great-grandchildren, Taylor (Jae) Park, Jack (Ashley) Orr, Keagen Smith, Avery Smith, Grant Smith, Henry Schnake, and Elizabeth Schnake; great-great-granddaughter, Leena Park; sister-in-law, June Whitt; and cousins Martha Brindley, Phlecia Bynum, and Joyce Brown.
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 on October 5 at Graceland Fairlawn Funeral Home in Decatur. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.
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