Shirley Gemar Obituary

GEMAR, Shirley Shirley Munn Player, age 73, our Lord's child, entered the Lord's Holy Kingdom Tuesday, January 15, 2008 at her home. She was accepted by He and His Son Jesus Christ, and the angels of Heaven. Shirley, through the holy miracle of life, started her blessed passage on this earth March 23, 1934 on Sullivan's Island. She was the daughter of the late Sinclair Wisterior and Ludwig Jefferson Munn. Experiencing her earliest years as an island girl, she witnessed many of the Lord's truly natural and beautiful gifts, from the sunrises awakening the barrier island shorelines to all God's creatures both below the ocean and on the island. Her grandfather, being a lighthouse keeper, enabled her at a young age to enjoy these treasured moments that she shared with many of her friends. A natural beauty, Shirley's outgoing, yet modest and caring personality ensured her popularity; making a lasting impression to all she met. Shirley was a caring person to everyone, both family and friends. Shirley moved to Awendaw at an early age, and experienced rural country living and all of its challenges. She appreciated any, and all, of the modest, smallest, and rarest rewards which came her way. One of these rewards was meeting her first true love Guyton Player, to whom she wed in Holy Matrimony. Together, they were blessed with the birth of three handsome sons. Her husband Guyton preceded her in death at an early stage in their lives, and Shirley dedicated her life to the duty of being a loving mother and raising her young boys. With the strength of our Lord, the support of her parents, family, and friends, she fulfilled her duty. Always being a conscientious person, Shirley organized and led the Cub Scouts as a Den Mother, providing both for her sons and the other community youth a very high standard of morals, stewardship, and leadership which benefitted the boys. Shirley's love for music came naturally, starting at an early age and throughout her relationship with her first husband Guyton, also a talented musician. She was a graceful and energetic dancer and loved the Lowcountry Grand Strand beach dance called The Shag. She, along with a friend and dance partner, Bill Rumer, won top honors in many dance competitions. Shirley was fortunate and blessed to have a second chance at marriage, exchanging sacred vows and sharing 41 fulfilled years with Duane Gemar. His love was true, sincere, and caring; second only to his love of Our Lord and His Son Jesus Christ. Shirley and Duane enjoyed each other's love, along with their Christian faith, throughout all challenges presented to them, always maintaining their sacred bond as soul mates. His love for her will never waiver, for he and all who had the opportunity to be blessed by her beauty and caring love realized she was truly an angel sent to us from heaven. She will be deeply missed by her husband, Duane Gemar; her sons Mark (Rocky) Player and his wife Donna of Awendaw, SC, and Scott Player and his wife Tonya of St. James City, FL; her granddaughter Scarlett, grandsons, Mitchell and Mark, and great-granddaughters Aury and Bella. Mrs. Gemar was preceded in death by her first husband, Horace Guyton Player, her son Horace Guyton Player, Jr., and her brother James Ludwig Munn. A gathering with family and friends will be held from 10:30 AM 11:30 AM, Saturday, January 19, 2008 at MCALISTER-SMITH FUNERAL HOME, MT. PLEASANT CHAPEL. Following, there will be a Memorial Service at Noon at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Mt. Pleasant, with a reception from 1-2 PM in the Fellowship Hall. Inurnment with a graveside service will be at 2:30 PM in Wilson's Cemetery in Awendaw. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 604 Pitt Street, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464; or Ocean Grove United Methodist Church, 6517 HWY 17 N., Awendaw, SC 29429; or Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, PO Box 27106, New York, NY 10087. Arrangements by MCALISTER-SMITH FUNERAL HOME, MT. PLEASANT CHAPEL, 1520 Rifle Range Road, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464; (843) 884-3833. Condolences may be sent to the family via www.mcalister-smith.com. Visit our guestbook at www.charleston.net/deaths.