Mary Julia (Beam) Schuler

Schuler, Mary Julia (Julie) Beam, 98, passed away on Sunday, May 16 at Saint Anne Communities, Randallia. Born near Bardstown, KY, she was the oldest child of Hiner and May (Shircliff) Beam. During the World War II era she became a Registered Nurse at Saint Mary & Elizabeth Hospital in Louisville, a member of the Army Nurse Corp Reserve and a member of the Civil Air Patrol. After the war, Julie completed her B.S. In Nursing at Nazareth College and did graduate work at the University of Kentucky. A guileless person who always expected a direct answer and gave one day in return, she enjoyed a varied early career in the nursing field in the Louisville area, which revealed an outgoing person with leadership ability. Julie worked in the operating room at Children's Hospital, in the nursery and as clinical instructor in obstetrics at Saint Mary & Elizabeth Hospital, as founder and supervisor of the pediatrics area at Saint Anthony's Hospital and as Director of Nursing at Kentucky State T.B. Hospital. This latter experience led to a position with the T.B. Commission in Frankfort and then to the position as the first State Supervisor of Practical Nurse Education in Kentucky. While eligible for her majority Julie resigned her commission as Captain in the Army Nurse Corp Reserve subsequent to her marriage in 1960, at which time she became Director of Nursing Services at Saint Joseph's Hospital in South Bend, IN, where she worked until moving to Fort Wayne. After a brief period as Director of Nursing Services for Health and Safety at the American Red Cross local chapter, she took ten years off to raise her children. Julie then resumed her career as Director of Nursing Services at Turtle Creek Convalescent Center, after which she spent the remaining 15 years of her nursing career until retirement in 1993 as a staff and charge nurse at the American Red Cross in Fort Wayne. Julie enjoyed celebration and dancing. She and her husband hosted many Kentucky Derby parties over the years. She loved to cook, bake, and make candy for family and friends and eagerly planned and participated in food preparation for family gatherings, Red Cross nursing staff affairs, selected church functions and meetings of the POETS. Julie is survived by her husband of 60 years, Paul, her two sons Paul Jr. and Matthew (Monica), grandchildren Sydney Schuler and Julian (Megan) Schuler and many nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends. She was preceded in death by her sister Catherine (William Masden II) and brothers R.P. and E.C. Beam. Julie was a member of Our Lady of Good Hope Catholic Church for over 30 years, during the early years of which she served as Eucharistic Minister and as Chairperson of the Parish Council. Her family expresses gratitude for the compassionate and professional care which she received from the staff of Saint Anne and Heart to Heart Hospice.  Memorial Service will be 2:30 pm, Friday, May 21, 2021 at Divine Mercy Funeral Home, 3500 Lake Ave with calling one hour prior. Burial will be in Highland Park Cemetery, Fort Wayne. Memorials may be made for Masses at Saint Anne Communities, 1900 Randallia Dr., Fort Wayne, IN 46805 or to the charity of the donor’s choice.  To sign the online guest book, go to www.divinemercyfuneralhome.com.