Mary Ellen Schlehr, a devoted wife, mother and grandmother who made family a priority throughout her life, passed away following a lengthy illness on August 12, 2026 with family at her bedside. The Bel Air resident was one week shy of her 76th birthday.

Born in Jamaica, N.Y. to Edwin and Harriet (nee Trageser) Schneider, Mary and her family moved to Baltimore near Memorial Stadium in 1961. She eventually attended Towson Catholic High School. Shortly thereafter the Schneider clan settled on a small farm in Jarrettsville where several siblings continue to reside. While raising a family of her own she was employed as a legal secretary for Gregory A. Rapisarda, followed by a position with Royston Mueller McLean & Reid as a loan processor. She continued in that capacity for Rosedale Federal Bank in Perry Hall until her retirement.

“As soon as she retired, she became Ginkum 24/7 and watched those babies,” said her daughter, Amy Busick, referring to the nickname Mary was tagged with by her first grandchild. “She never tired of it because she was intensely loyal to her family.”

For more than three decades the family vacationed in Ocean City at Mary’s favorite location, the Lankford Hotel on North Atlantic Avenue. Her husband, Michael, was tagged with the responsibility of securing the family’s reservation each summer. “She was a voracious reader and enjoyed the time on the beach where she could catch up on her favorite John Grisham legal thrillers,” he said, adding their bookshelves at home are still filled with this genre.

At home Mary spent time in her garden. She had a fondness for animals, doting over her dogs, Cooper and Tillie. Her deviled eggs, meatballs and fudge were always requested dishes at parties. Family pride determined her favorite sports teams. “It was all family based,” her son, Jeff Morse, said. “It was whatever sport we were involved in … soccer, baseball.”

Mary was predeceased by an infant daughter, Melinda Rene. She is survived by her husband of 44 years, Michael, siblings Carol (Phil) Weidman of Campobello, S.C., Anna (Tom) Carrigan of Jarrettsville, Edwin Schneider of Cockeysville, Fran (Ray) Wiland of Jarrettsville and Maria (Malcolm) Whyte of Jarrettsville, children Chad (Angel) Schlehr of Yulee, Fla., Jeff (Stacy) Morse of Bel Air, Troy (Meredith) Morse of Chapel Hill, N.C. and Amy (Brewer) Busick of Forest Hill, 23 grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Arrangements are pending following a private family viewing. A celebration of life is planned for September. The family asks that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital https://www.stjude.org/promotion/impact-giving-pm.html?