Evelyn Schwarz died peacefully, in her sleep, on June 28th, 2014. She was 92.

She was born on March 28th, 1922 to Harry and Lucille Mickelson in Seattle, WA. Her husband, Bob, was a navy sailor on leave when they met. They had a whirlwind romance and married on December 3rd, 1942 in San Diego, CA. She moved with him to several different and interesting places as he transferred to a number of military bases after the war including Honolulu after Pearl Harbor. For a while, she packed parachutes to help support their growing family.

Together, they raised eight children. The first arrived in 1943. The last was born in 1965.

When most of her children had grown up and left home, Evelyn went back to college at Everett Community College and got an Associate's degree with an emphasis in music.

Evelyn began studying piano as a teenager and became an accomplished pianist. She played in many venues from weddings to the assisted living homes she lived in during her final years. She played a variety of music but was especially fond of Chopin, Beethoven, and Tchaikovsky. She especially liked the Warsaw Concerto by Richard Addinsell.

In her retirement years, she and her husband travelled all over the country. The explored new places and searched for treasure. They also collected geode rocks and had a beautiful collection.

Evelyn loved animals of all kinds but especially cats. She always had several.

In her final years, she was cared for by Jacob Gustafson at the Caring with Love and Laughter Adult Family Home in Kennewick, WA. She received amazing care there and the family would like to thank Jacob and his staff for their devotion to her for almost ten years.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband Robert James Schwarz and by her oldest son James Robert Schwarz. She is survived by seven of her children, their spouses, their children and grandchildren. Susan Foster and her husband John live in Lewistown, MT. Gary Schwarz and his wife Donna and their children Pat, Jenny, and Laura live in Missoula, MT. Chris Schwarz and his wife Cheryl live in Colstrip, MT with their children Joshua, Brian, Samuel, Benjamin, and Sara. Wayne Schwarz, from Granite Falls, WA, has two sons, Chris and Nathan. Shawn Schwarz and his wife Terry live in Boerne, TX. Randy Schwarz and his wife Alysia live in Richland, WA with their children Kathy Byrd Husband: Michael, Alex, Ashleigh, Kaitlynn, Alan, and Ryan Schwarz. They have two grandchildren Heidi and Cannon Byrd. Leiloni Claxton and her husband Roger live in Stanwood, WA. Leiloni has four children, Tabitha Esaacson Husband: Jacob, Ariel Palmer, Brianna, and Mackenzie Winegar. Her grandchildren are Lorelei and Clark Esaacson.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 12, 2014 at 2:00pm with one hour viewing prior to service at Einan's at Sunset in Richland. A graveside service will be take place following the funeral at Sunset Gardens.