Elizabeth Ann Schwarz

Elizabeth Ann “Gran” Schwarz was born on August 18, 1929 in Abilene, TX and passed from this earth to take her place in the great cloud of witnesses on November 22, 2015. Ann was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She loved children and doted upon them, whether they were members of her own family, children in the church Sunday School class she taught, or friends of her children and grandchildren. She never forgot a birthday and found special and unique ways to show her family and friends just how much she cared.

She was born to James A. and Ruby Mills and lived all of her life in Abilene except for two years in Seattle, WA and Moscow, ID during WWII. Returning to Texas after the war, she met her future husband, Austin Schwarz, at a VFW dance. They were married on May 18, 1947 and enjoyed 54 years together before Austin’s death in 2001. Ann and Austin were the proud parents of three children, Kathy, Rick, and Susan.

Ann had many interests and enjoyed painting, reading, puzzles, music, films, collecting, and traveling. She spent many hours watching her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren play ball, run races, pole vault, dance, sing, act, play instruments, perform in half-time shows, do gymnastics, karate, and even ride bulls and sheep. She was a book keeper for several local businesses and sold Home Interiors for many years. She was famous for her pies, and the question of “Coconut or Chocolate?” is still hotly debated.

Ann loved the Lord with all her heart and reflected that love in the way she lived her life. She and Austin attended Southside Church of Christ for over 50 years, where she served faithfully as a deacon’s wife and Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher. After Austin’s death, she attended Fountaingate Fellowship with her daughter, and when getting out of the house became too difficult, you would find her with her hymn book watching Sunday services on TV.

The family would like to give special thanks to First Baptist Church of Abilene and Oldham Lane Church of Christ for providing television services.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son-in-law A.D. Barnes, several sisters and brothers-in-law, and aunts and uncles. She is survived by her children, Kathy and Tom Ford of Abilene, Rick and Elizabeth Schwarz of Possum Kingdom Lake in TX, Susan and Jack Richards of Lubbock, TX, grandchildren David and SanDee Barnes of Merkel, TX (Hunter and Sydnee), Amy and Joshua White of Bryan, TX, Matthew and Ashley Barnes of Abilene, TX (Baylee and Jaycee), Zachry and Regan Barnes of Amarillo, TX, Jacob and Brandy Schwarz of Fort Worth, TX (Seeleigh, Samantha, Coraline), Ashlie and Jared Thomas of Odessa, TX (Claire and Ethan), Katelyn and Thomas Odom of Austin, TX, Kali Richards of Lubbock, TX, and Jackson Richards of Lubbock, TX, step-grandchildren Lourie and Jason Jarvis of Terrell, TX (Kallan, Sydney, Kennedy, and Jasie), and Lance and Kim Ford of McKinney, TX (Jake, Cade, and McKenzie). She is also survived by brother and sisters-in-law Jack and Ruby Hudson of Garden Grove, CA and Lena Farr of Warner Robins, GA, special cousins Ruby Thompson of Lawn, TX, Ramona Huddleston of Dallas, TX, Becky Stacy of Katy, TX, and many nieces and nephews.

Services will be held Wednesday, November 25, 2015 at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 5701 Highway 277 South, Abilene, TX at 11:00 am with Scott Beard officiating. Burial will follow at Elmwood Memorial Park. Grandsons and her only great grandson will serve as pallbearers. The family would like to especially thank Alma Tijerina for the wonderful care she has given to both “Miss Elizabeth” and her family for the past three years.