Schuman Yang

Dr. Schuman Yang was born December 28, 1924 in Canton, China to parents Chuo Chung Sheing and Chuo Lee Shau Kiu.
Schuman became a Christian in her teens, relying on her faith during the years of World War II in China. At age 13, her father died. The family, not able to stay together, was scattered, with family members living apart from each other in distant locations for many years. It was at this time in her life when Schuman dedicated herself to two main goals: 1) to get an education to further herself and 2) to be able to help her siblings if needed.
While studying at the National Conservatory of Music in Shanghai, Schuman met a fellow student and her future husband, Johann Yang. They married on New Year's Day, 1949, the same year they immigrated to the United States to continue their education. They earned bachelor degrees in music in 1953 from Wheaton College in Illinois, and master's degrees in music composition and performance at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. While in Chicago, their only child, Johann Jr., was born.
Their pursuit of education continued, with Schuman obtaining a Specialist in Education degree in 1966, then a doctorate in musicology in 1973 from the George Peabody College for Teachers (now Vanderbilt University) in Nashville, TN.
Dr. Yang's teaching career included: music teacher with the Kentucky public school system; voice professor at East Texas Baptist College, Marshall, Texas; and voice and opera professor at Louisiana Tech University, where she taught for twenty-five years, also serving as chairman of the voice department in Louisiana Tech's School of Music.
Schuman and Johann had a deep commitment to Jesus Christ, and a strong desire to serve the Lord through their abilities and the opportunities they were given. Schuman supported Johann throughout his ministerial career in Beaver Dam, Kentucky; Marshall, Texas; Bernice and Shreveport Louisiana. She helped with the worship music when Johann became the first pastor of the Chinese-speaking mission at the First Baptist Church in Shreveport.
Dr. Yang and Rev. Yang also hosted and led weekly Bible studies for Chinese students attending Louisiana Tech University. Many of these students kept in touch in the years following their college experiences in Ruston, Louisiana.
The fulfillment of Schuman's other life-long goal, begun in the late '60s continued into the early '80s as Schuman and Johann sponsored the immigration to the U. S. of two of her brothers, a sister and each of their families.
They loved to host family gatherings around the holidays and being Auntie and Uncle to their nieces and nephews.
The Yangs enjoyed traveling, and in addition to the leisure trips they made to see grandsons Jason and Jered and later great grandsons Benjamin and Joshua, they made trips back to Asia to help with the mission work of the Baptist Seminary in Hong Kong. They were in Beijing, near Tiananmen Square, in 1989 at the time of the student-led demonstrations but knew nothing of those momentous events occurring nearby due to news blackouts. They learned of the events at Tiananmen Square only after traveling to a location where access to CNN was allowed.
Schuman led a rich, full life. She touched and was touched by the many people she knew and loved over the course of her life. Since Johann Senior's passing in April, 2011, Schuman has lived alone, but in the caring hands of TLC Assisted Living in Dallas.
Schuman Yang passed from this earth in the early hours of August 6, 2013. She was predeceased by her husband, her parents and two younger sisters, Chou Siu Hing and Chou Siu Ming. Surviving her are three other siblings, sister Sybil Feng, and brothers Kent Cheuk and Wayne Chuck. She is also survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Johann and Susan Yang; two grandsons, Jason and Jered; and Jason's wife Emily, and their three children, great-grandsons Benjamin and Joshua; and great-granddaughter Hallie.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August, 31, 2013 at 1:30 PM at Hunters Glen Baptist Church, 4001 Custer Road, Plano, Texas 75023 with Reverend Michael Cheuk officiating.
If desired, contributions may be made in Dr. Schuman Yang's name to benefit Baylor Plano Pastoral Care - addressed to the Baylor Health Care System Foundation, 300 Gaston Avenue, Suite 100, Dallas Texas 75246.