A beautiful soul, Shirley "Victoria" Schear, 78, passed on to her next journey on Saturday, April 29, in Pensacola, FL, surrounded by her family and close friends.

Victoria was born in Dallas, TX and lived most of her life in Houston, TX where she completed her bachelor degree in anthropology and sociology at University of Houston at Clear Lake in 1987, and after raising her three daughters.

She helped pioneer, coordinate and design programs as executive director of Concerned Teens Inc., an umbrella organization in Houston for programs to help teens through emotional crises, at risk teens become successful, as well as train other teens to be peer counselors. She loved nature and always kept a childlike perspective of the world marveling at the tiniest details such as the way a blade of grass blew in the wind or the near imperceptible iridescent colors on the feather of birds or wings of butterflies. She became an avid birder after her boyfriend, Doug Troeger, introduced her to the hobby, always carrying a pair of binoculars and her birding book everywhere she went.

Victoria moved to the Corrales area of New Mexico from Houston, TX a decade ago after vacationing in the Land of Enhancement for years. She loved the El Pueblo Lodge in Taos, where she stayed during her many vacations. She had a generous spirit and loved to help people in need and support small, locally owned businesses in the Corrales and Rio Rancho areas. She would want everyone to remember this quote from one of Joel Osteen's books she had marked, "Your challenge is to live in such a way as to cause others to win."

She loved the colors, sights and scents of the high desert area and the Southwestern lifestyle, art, people and, of course, the Southwest fare. She made special friends along the way.

She was preceded in death by her father, Maurice Felton Carpenter; mother, Florence Mae (Haber) Alexander; and brother, Larry Joseph Kennedy.

She is survived by her daughters, Terry Miles Bitzel of Manitu Springs, CO, Kimberly Blair of Gulf Breeze, FL, and Robin Richardson of Oceanside, CA; her grandchildren, Greg Riegler of Pensacola, FL, and Bailey Blair of Gulf Breeze, FL; her siblings, Marla Gordon, Myra Lee, Maurice Carpenter and Mona Parks, all of Texas, along with cousins, nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind her boyfriend of 30 years, Doug Troeger of Houston, TX.

As her battle with dementia began, she received invaluable counseling from Cindy Anderson with PeopleWorks-NM. Our family wishes to thank Cindy for all of the support she provided Victoria as she tried to accept her limitations.

Victoria moved to Florida in August 2016 after her health declined further, where her daughter Kimberly Blair and family took over her care.

Her family will be returning to New Mexico this summer to spread Victoria's ashes at sunset over the desert she loved. Anyone who wishes to honor Victoria may donate to The Nature Conservancy or PeopleWorks-NM, 4330 Meadowlark Ln., SE, Rio Rancho, New Mexico 87124.

Special thanks to the Clarity Pointe staff and caregivers and Regency Hospice for their care of our mother.