Martina McBride Mourns the Loss of Her Father, Daryl Martin Schiff: ‘Our Hearts Are Broken’

Martina McBride is mourning the loss of her father, Daryl Martin Schiff. Schiff passed away “suddenly and peacefully” at the age of 86 on Tuesday, January 14 at his home.

The country music icon took to social media earlier this week to pay tribute to her late father, admitting, “I really don’t have the right words” as she began her post. 

“My dad passed away Tuesday night,” she revealed. “Our hearts are broken.”

McBride reflected on her father’s life in a heartfelt post as shared bittersweet memories that she shared with him throughout her life.   

“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,” she wrote. 

The “Independence Day” singer revealed that every single day since her mother passed five years ago, she and her father talked on the phone “every single night” and also sometimes throughout the day. 

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“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,” she shared. 

She revealed that her father passed down many traits to her, including a love for cooking and gardening and that they often shared photos and videos of their meals and gardens with each other. 

“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,” she continued. “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.”

In closing McBride thanked fans for keeping her family in their prayers. 

Daryl Martin Schiff was remembered during a visitation on Monday, Jan. 20. His funeral took place today, Tuesday, Jan. 21 at First Christian Church in Medicine Lodge, KS. He will be laid to rest in the Highland Cemetery in Medicine Lodge, KS, according to his obituary. 

The family kindly requests that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, in care of the funeral home.