Susan Jeanne Tool

Susan was born July 9th, 1949 at St. Francis Hospital in Charleston, SC to Jeanne Adair Stuart Tool and Arthur Ray Tool of Mt. Pleasant, SC.

Susan grew up in Mt. Pleasant, SC where she attended Mamie P. Whiteside’s Elementary School, Moultrie Middle School, and graduated from Moultrie High School. During those years, Susan was a competitive swimmer winning many ribbons and medals leading her to become an Olympic Class Swimmer. She went on to attend Columbia College before joining the Air Force in 1969.

In the Air Force, Susan was a medic stationed at Tachikawa, Japan where she cared for wounded soldiers serving in the Vietnam War. Here is where she met her first husband, Donald Ihme. After her service they returned to Don's home town of Denver, CO.

In Denver, Susan finished nursing school at Arapahoe Community College. While there, she and Don married and they had their first son, Baird, in 1975. Susan worked at the Denver Children's Hospital as a nurse, which began her lifelong dedication to caring for children.

After Baird was born they returned to South Carolina where Susan was a neonatal nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at MUSC. While there, their son, Devin, was born in 1978.

In 1982, Susan attended medical school at MUSC in Charleston, SC. She graduated in 1986 and completed her pediatric residency there in 1989. She went on to take a position at the pediatric clinic in Longmont, CO.

Susan spent a year in Longmont, CO before marrying her second husband, Joe Schwarz, in 1990 at Estes Park, CO and they settled in Lexington, SC. There Susan joined Dr. Dwight Reynolds at Lexington Pediatric Practice where she practiced for 17 years.

Susan retired from LPP and became an independent traveling doctor in 2007. Although she traveled for work, it was mostly to be "Gatty" to her six grandchildren that were spread out over the country and pursue her art interests. She later retired from medicine at 70 in 2019.

Susan was seen as a free spirit to most. She had a deep appreciation for art, music, and literature. She loved to express herself through her jewelry, clothing, and crafts. Often she could be found near water whether it be a lake, pond, ocean, or even just simply a pool.

Susan is deeply missed everyday by her husband, her family, and her friends.

Susan is survived by her husband, Joseph Vernon Schwarz; son, Baird (Kelly) Ihme; son, Devin (Rachel) Ihme; step- daughter, Brenda Schwarz Miller; her six treasured grandchildren, Syna, Kai, Orion, Ayla, Avery, and Asher; brother, David (Sharon) Tool; niece, Shannon Tool (Mae); nephew, Ehren (Sara) Tool; and great-nephew, Argil.

A visitation to commemorate her life along with her recently passed brother, Richard Tool, will be held Sunday, November 19th, 2023 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home in Lexington, 503 North Lake Drive, Lexington, SC 29072.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.caughmanlexington.com for the Tool family.