Happened in Crawford County: Laurie Scheffler rediscovers her love for art

• Laurie Scheffler, a Bucyrus native, pursued a career in education, teaching at Holy Trinity and incorporating her love for art into her lessons.
• In 1997, Scheffler and her husband, Randy, purchased Outhwaite Tire and later expanded the business, acquiring the former Carroll’s Foundry building.
• Despite facing challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Schefflers persevered and found success with their business, Randy’s Tire & Auto.
• After putting her artistic pursuits on hold, Scheffler rediscovered her passion for art through Sip and Paint classes and joined the Crawford County Art Council.
• Scheffler actively participates in various art groups, including the Burnt Sienna Club and the Fabric Fiber and Fun Club, exploring different mediums and finding stress relief through her creative endeavors.

Laurie Scheffler is a daughter of Ernie and Patricia Simonson Teynor, and she has two brothers, Ernie, Richard, and a sister, Beth. She started school at Holy Trinity and then went too Bucyrus High School, graduating in 1979. Her art teachers encouraged her to pursue art. She also played volleyball and softball.

She later wend to school at the Ohio State University branch in Mansfield Where she studied art. During this time Scheffler met Randy Scheffler; they married and had a family. Later, she went back to college, this time at OSU Marion. Her art teacher, Larry Sauselen, also was from Bucyrus and encouraged her to pursue a career in art.

By now, with a family she knew she wasn’t leaving Bucyrus, and she needed a career that would work out well, so she switched her studies to education, graduating with a degree in elementary education.

After graduation Scheffler started teaching fourth grade at Holy Trinity. She also taught the language arts, religion and art in grades six-eight. She was able to use her art in the classroom, and enjoyed some exceptional art students. Scheffler finished her teaching career with the second graders. She has kept her friendship with some of the teachers from that time.

Getting started in a new endeavor

About a year after Paul Outhwaite died in 1997, the Schefflers bought his business, Outhwaite Tire. In 2003, they purchased the former Carroll’s Foundry building at 1000 N. Sandusky St. It also housed the Galion Iron Works, Checkmate Boats and other business over the years.

It was a large building to undertake for Randy’s Tire & Auto. The community wished them well, but some didn’t think they could succeed, Scheffler said. Then, COVID hit shortly after they secured funding to pave the parking lot. They didn’t know if they would be allowed to stay open, but it because it was rated essential, it did. 

Reflecting back to the move into the new building, Randy Scheffler said they were so busy because they still had the old Outhwaite Tire business and the upkeep for both places. It’s very costly to maintain a big inventory of tires and other products, he said.

The business entails a lot of bookwork, meeting payroll and customer service.

“People say if you can make a marriage work when building a house together, think what it means to keep it going through a big business deal,” Laurie Scheffler said.

That’s why she has an office with doors she can close . One time when she took over as the office manager, she quit about three times in one week. The last time she threw her phone in the trash and was horrified one of the guys accidently spit on it. It’s not easy working together as a couple, it’s a lot of togetherness, she said.

With family and work, Laurie Scheffler had to put art on the back burner.

Finally time to get down to business with art

She dabbled in art off and on, but what really brought her back happened when she went to a Sip and Paint Class with Bob and Sandy Laipply. It sparked that love of art that had been on the sidelines for so long and she decided to get busy. The group started doing watercolors at Sandy Laipply’s house until COVID hit and they had to put their love of painting back on the sidelines again.

The Crawford County Art Council started in 2017 on East Mansfield Street, and Sandy Laipply invited Scheffler to join the group in 2021. She serves on the board now. The group has moved to 117 N. Sandusky St. It’s an exciting time for the Art Center, which is getting many more visitors, encouraging people to put it on their walking tour. The council offers some free classes. With a membership people can display their art and sell it.

Dr. Glen McMurray was instrumental in creating the Arts Council started and started the Burnt Sienna Club where artists are encouraged to paint in different mediums, or to just totake lessons.

Scheffler also is involved in the Fabric Fiber and Fun Club, and again, Laipply was the one who introduced it to her. It’s mostly people who sew and quilt, but other kinds of mediums are shared. Scheffler mostly does Mandalas and painting with dots and swooshes using acrylic paint. The background of Mandalas is for meditation, and is considered sacred in some religions. Scheffler said it relieves her stress and she enjoys seeing how colors and designs go together.

Randy and Laurie Scheffler have two children, Adrienne Kemery, a claims adjuster for Cincinnati Insurance, and Clarissa Slater, an operational specialist-marketing and training, for Ganymede Technology Corp.

In closing Scheffler said it’s been quite a life.

“I’ve been very fortunate to share my talent with others, and learn from other exceptional artists that I’ve met,” she said.

Go online for more of Mary Fox’s stories and photos on bucyrustelegraphforum.com. If you are interested in sharing a story, write Mary Fox, 931 Marion Road, Bucyrus 44820, or email littlefoxfactory@columbus.rr.com.

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