Mary Frances Barker Schneider, age 95, formerly of Blair, passed away suddenly on Saturday, October 13, 2018 at Seasons Hospice in Cumming, GA.

Mary Frances was born on February 24, 1923 in Lockport, LA to Richard Hobbs Barker and Marie Blanchard Barker. She was a member of the Holy Savior Church and attended the Holy Savior School and Gran Coteau College.

In 1941, Mary Frances enrolled in the Hotel Dieu Schol of Nursing in New Orleans, LA with the intention of joining the United States Navy upon completion of her degree. However, in 1944, she met her future husband, Mark Schneider, a LSU medical student from Independence, WI at the Charity Hospital in New Orleans. They were married at the Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church on the Loyola University campus on February 12, 1945.

After Dr. Schneider returned from overseas military duty, they moved to Blair, WI where he opened his medical practice. They made Blair their home for more than 50 years, raising six children.

Mary Frances and Dr. Schneider were founding members of two Catholic parishes, Saint John's Catholic Church in Whitehall and Saint Ansgar's Catholic Church in Blair. Mary Frances was member of the deanery committee for the LaCrosse, WI diocese and taught CCD for many years.

Mary Frances was active in Blair as a Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader was president of the MNC Women's Club.

Several years after her husband's passing in 1997, Mary Frances relocated to Mooresville, NC to be close to her daughter, Judy and son-in-law, Bill Nielsen. In 2008, Mary Frances moved to Alpharetta, GA to be close to her son, William and daughter, Beth Taylor. At the time of her death, Mary Frances was a resident of the Autumn Leaves Memory Care community in Alpharetta.

Mary Frances is survived by five children, sons, Mark (Carolyn) Schneider of Travelers Rest, SC, Michael (Lisa) Schneider of Timnath, CO and William (Jenny) Schneider of Cumming, GA; daughters, Mary Patricia (Leslie) White of Albuquerque, NM and Elizabeth Taylor of Cumming, GA; ten grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and a brother, Robert Barker Sr. of Lockport, LA.

In addition to her parents and husband of 52 years, Mark, Mary Frances was preceded in death by a daughter, Judy and son-in-law William Nielsen and a son-in-law, Richard Taylor.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Monday, October 29, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. in the Holy Savior Church in Lockport, LA. Burial and graveside services will be held on Saturday, November 10, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. in Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery in Independence with Father Woodrow Pace officiating.

In lieu of flowers, Mary Frances's family requests donations in her name be made to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN.

The Falgout Funeral Home in Raceland, LA and the Jack Funeral Home in Blair, WI assisted the family with arrangements.