Michael Raymond (Mike) Schuster
1947-2022
Michael Raymond (Mike) Schuster, of Edmond, Oklahoma was born in Maryville, Missouri on January 3, 1947 to Raymond and Gertrude Schuster. Mike passed from this life on December 19, 2022 at the age of 75. Mike is survived by his wife: Carol Schuster, of the home; his daughter, Sarah Ruiz and her husband and daughter, Steve and Parker of Edmond, Oklahoma Mike’s son, Jon Schuster and his wife Emily and daughters Olivia, and Claire of Northlake, Texas. Six siblings, Judy Myers, of Edmond, Oklahoma, Frank Schuster, of Edmond, Oklahoma, Jerry Schuster, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Danny Schuster, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Mary Mundis, of Leawood, Kansas, Jeanne Pierson and her husband, Dave of Barnard, Missouri. Two (2) god-daughters: Jeanne Pierson, who was also his sister, and god-daughter Ericka Betchan, of Edmond, Oklahoma. Mike is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, and three (3) sisters-in-law and their husbands who all loved Mike like a brother.
Growing up on a farm as the second eldest of seven children, Mike developed a strong work ethic early. Thinking he might be a teacher, Mike attended Northwest Missouri State University and graduated with an undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and a master’s degree in Science Education. Mike never dreamed of working in healthcare. However, after teaching school for one (1) year, he went to work in the personnel department at Saint Anthony’s hospital.
While at Saint Anthony’s Mike developed a hospital-wide supervisory and management training program, which focused on leadership and the accomplishment of common goals. Also, it is not insignificant that Mike developed and presented an orientation and training program for new hires. One of the attendees of his new hire training program was a pretty young lady that captured Mike’s attention. That pretty young lady was Carol Wagnon, now Schuster. Mike was obviously very convincing!
The success of his leadership training and development programs did not go unnoticed and gained immediate traction in the healthcare industry.
One of Mike’s leadership seminars was attended by a group from Mercy Hospital in Miami, Florida. That group decided they needed what Mike had to offer. They recruited Mike to Miami where he worked as an Assistant Administrator.
Mike’s reputation continued to grow and he was quickly recruited to resolve labor issues by the Howard Young Medical Center in Minocqua, Wisconsin. After four (4) years and those labor issues resolved, Mike returned to Oklahoma.
Building on his success in hospital administration Mike decided to go into business for himself and in 1982 he founded the Schuster Group. As the president and Chief Executive Officer of the Schuster Group, Mike continued to sharpen his focus on the art of planning, testing, and launching innovative healthcare related companies. The practical application of that focus formed the genesis of the gospel according to Schuster – everything requires a good plan.
As a true visionary Mike built the first outpatient surgery center in Midwest City, Oklahoma. Under Mike’s leadership the Schuster Group went on to develop hospitals, women’s health centers and cancer centers.
In spite of Mike’s myriad of successes, he was quick to acknowledge that he couldn’t accomplish all that he accomplished alone. It was in Mike’s wisdom, humility, and foresight that he surrounded himself with some of the best and brightest minds in business. Those bright minds became some of Mike’s closest friends.
Finally, and by his own admission, the turning point in his life was his decision to follow Christ. It was his faith in Christ that sustained him and gave him strength to live 20 additional months after being given only 3 months to live. Yes, Mike, above all, was a man of faith. But, he was a man of faith with a good plan. So, Mike, the ultimate planner, planned to spend Christmas 2022 with Jesus. Mike and Christ executed that plan with flawless precision.
There will be a celebration of Mike’s life at 2:00pm on February 3rd at the Oklahoma City campus of Crossings Community Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Arise Single Moms, PO BOX 2973, Edmond, OK 73083 or arisesinglemoms.com.