Country icon Martina McBride has announced the death of her father Daryl Schiff aged 86 in a devastating Instagram post.
McBride, 58, shared a poignant photo of her musician father as she reflected on his sudden passing at home in Sharon, Kansas, and how much he had ‘taught me about music and life.’
She wrote: ‘I really don’t have the right words. My dad passed away Tuesday night. Our hearts are broken.
‘He was 86 and had an amazing life. He was a third-generation family farmer. He was also the leader of our family band, The Schiffters. He taught me so much about music, about life, about how to treat others.
‘Since my mom passed 5 years ago Dad and I talked on the phone every single night and sometimes during the day. Over 1800 conversations that I am so grateful I had. I was able to record some of them, some of his stories, and they are priceless to me.
‘He kept active, still driving and living in his home, and “going down for coffee” with his friends at the local CO-OP.
Country icon Martina McBride has announced the death of her father Daryl Schiff aged 86 in a devastating Instagram post
McBride, 58, shared a poignant photo of her musician father as she reflected on his sudden passing and how much he had ‘taught me about music and life.’
He passed away suddenly and peacefully at his home.
We shared a love of cooking and gardening, often sharing recipes and sending each other videos and photos of what we cooked and how our gardens were progressing.
‘He loved to tell me what he had bought on his almost daily trips to the grocery store. He loved to sit on his porch and always told me when someone stopped by to visit. He loved his family, his friends, and our mom.
‘Having lived here all of his life, he was such an important member not only of the Sharon community but many communities in the area. People remember going to the Schiffters dances and hearing him sing.
He had the kindest blue eyes and a great laugh.
‘So much of who I am came from him. There is so much more I could write, and probably will.
‘Thank you for keeping us in your prayers during this time.
Daryl is survived by McBride, sons Stephen and Marty, daughter Gina and 15 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and one sister.
‘He was 86 and had an amazing life. He was a third-generation family farmer. He was also the leader of our family band, The Schiffters. He taught me so much about music, about life, about how to treat others’
Martina shared this photo to mark Fathers Day 2022
He was married to Verla for 55 years from 1965 until her death in January 2020.
His online obituary reveals Daryl was a ‘third-generation Kansas farmer. He farmed alongside his dad and then later by himself. He had a dairy farm for awhile and then later raised cattle and crops, mainly wheat.
‘He loved music and was the leader of The Schiffters, a popular country rock band that played many dances in Kansas and Oklahoma over 17 years. His daughter, Martina, and son, Marty, played in the band and his wife, Jeanne, ran the sound board. Daryl loved to tell stories about that time.
‘The Schiffters played every Saturday night, playing four hour dances for Elks Clubs, VFW Clubs, the old Isabel Gymnasium and many many wedding dances over the years. He kept singing even after the Schiffters, performing at the Wilmore Opry and Concerts in the Barn.
‘He made two albums in Nashville and got to perform on the Grand Ole Opry twice. His last public performance was at the Pratt Country Fair on July 23, 2022 which drew over 5,000 people. He loved being onstage and making people happy with his music.
‘Two of his hobbies were cooking and gardening. He was an excellent cook and often took homemade meals to friends. He always raised a big garden. He loved to sit on the porch with his friends, watching the humming birds and the purple martins and petting Shadow and the rest of the cats that had adopted him. He had coffee every morning with his friends at the Sharon CO-OP before walking down to get his mail. He kept active and loved to drive and go to the grocery store most every day. He was known and loved by so many.
