Shirley Stephens Bergman

Shirley Stephens Bergman was born on July 31, 1933 in Fristoe, MO, to Raymond Powell Stephens and Cleo Marie Stephens. She grew up in Elsberry, MO and attended William Jewell College in Liberty, MO, where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Music and Art. While at William Jewell, she met Arthur Augustus Bergman of DeSoto, MO, and they were married on April 17, 1954 in Elsberry, MO. They had four sons; Bruce, Ken, Ray, and Donn. Art was a Marine officer, attaining the rank of Colonel. During Art’s military career the family moved 17 times to new duty stations. With each move, Shirley ensured a smooth transition for the boys in school, church, Boy Scouts, and sports. All four boys earned the rank of Eagle Scout. After Art retired from the Marines, they moved back to St Louis where Art worked at McDonnell Douglas. Shirley directed music at the First Baptist Church, Woodbridge, VA; the Protestant Chapel, Camp Lejeune, NC; Kempsville Baptist Church, Virginia Beach, VA; Westwood Baptist Church, Springfield, VA; and Parker Road Baptist Church, Florissant, MO. Her sons and her husband sang in these choirs. She organized evangelical Christian musicals for her youth choirs, going on tour to various sites in Virginia, Washington, DC, and North Carolina. These musicals included I Wonder, Celebrate Life, and Tell It Like It Is. She established and directed women’s Choralier groups in the Washington DC and St Louis regions, supporting civic events and senior citizen programs. She taught piano and voice to dozens of students in Florissant, MO, where she hosted bi-annual recitals. Shirley passed away on Sunday, April 17, 2016, at her home in Florissant, MO. She is survived by her sister, four sons, ten grandchildren, and four great grandchildren. The Ballad of Art and Shirley ‘Twas July 1933, in the midst of the Great Depression Ray Stephens tried hard to find some work anywhere there was construction Shirley was born to Ray’s wife Cleo, way down in Fristoe, Missouri Young Ray would work, and scrimp on food, to send his wife some money As Shirley grew up, the family would be outside, in the shade on weekends each summer The kids would all sing, aunts and uncles would listen, to hear their opening number Ray grew a business building roads, for farm to market they say They moved up to Elsberry, to live and make their way As a teenage girl, young Shirley would sing, at various social events At high school sports, she was a cheerleader, she schooling was quite intense Then Ray sent Shirley to Willian Jewell, to study music and art She sang in shows at Kansas City, and in ‘Carmen’ she played that part Art Bergman saw Shirley, and went right after, that girl who caught his eye He showed his love for this pretty girl, and she fell for this guy They married at college, finishing school, with Bruce boy on the way Art joined the Marines, Bruce was born in Quantico, oh what a happy day Then Art was stationed at Camp Lejeune, and they got Lieutenant’s Quarters Art went to sea, then Kenny was born, and Art received new orders They were told to move, to Hawaii, to work in the Pacific Then Ray was born at the Naval Hospital, just to be specific Art was told, go to California, to study Electric Engineering Donn was born at the base in Fort Ord, and Shirley got new earrings Then Dad got his Master’s Degree, and they sent him to live in Virginia He managed radios and wires and such, very complex, I’m tellin ya The boys went to school, joined Scouts and church, and they got bigger each day Big Art was there to keep them in line, and show his young boys the way Then Art was sent to Vietnam, and Shirley moved the boys to the farm In a tiny house, there with Art’s folks, they all still got along After the war Art went back to DC, to build some more wires and transmitters The family would camp on the Shenandoah, where Shirley cooked fish and corn fritters The boys all sang in Shirley’s church choir, where they memorized songs ‘bout the Bible As society changed, the boys learned what was right, to distinguished truth from libel Then off they moved to Norfolk and Lejeune, the Marines are there as I’m tellin’ Shirley directed choir at Camp Lejeune, and Art lead the 8th Comm Battalion Then Art got orders to Okinawa, to be the Chief of Staff Shirley took the boys back to DC, kept the boys in line by herself Then Art came back with orders to Norfolk, so Mom bought a house near the Beach Got her boys in school and also in choir, the Bible for them to teach They moved to Newport with a house on the Bay, sailing was quite an experience Had fun at Fort Adams, visited mansions, and worshiped with the Presbyterians They moved back to DC, and bought a new house, in Burke, with their friends from Fort Adams The Bergmans and Khalers sang four-part ensembles, in a group full of sirs and madams Then the Colonel retired, moved back to St Louis, to manage radios and missiles And Shirley taught music, directed the choir, with songs about the epistles They fixed up the farm, cleaned out the old cars, and made it look like a homestead They started reunions with all of the Bergmans, and had many parties they hosted They traveled the world, saw beautiful Rome, Art walked German towns with his brother Hosted their grandkids Christmas and summer, and always loved each other Now they’re together, gone up above, they’ve joined the heavenly chorus God’s been so good, these parents he gave us, they set the example for us Visitation will be Saturday, April 23, 2016 at Parker Road Baptist Church, 2675 Parker Rd, Florissant MO, from 1:30pm -3:00pm, followed by a funeral service at the church at 3:00pm. Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery , Washington D.C.

Shirley Stephens Bergman

July 31, 1933 - April 17, 2016