Dolores May Schwartz

Dolores May (Mercer) Schwartz went Home to the arms of her Savior Jesus Christ on April 21, 2026, at the age of 94. She passed away peacefully in Regency Care Center of Monroe after a prolonged battle with her health. She was preceded in death by her father Floyd Mercer (1990), her mother Olive Mercer (1983), and her only sibling, her sister Betty Mercer (2005).

Dolores was born January 15, 1932, in Monroe Washington. She grew up on her father’s farm, raising cows, chickens, and a variety of other animals. That farm is now the site of Brookdale Senior Living, Monroe. She graduated from Monroe High School in 1950. After graduating, she had a fully paid scholarship to “Mary Stone’s Beauty School” in Seattle where she earned her beauticians license.

On July 7, 1951, she married her high school sweetheart, John Lee Schwartz – also known as Johnny. They had three children: Cynthia, Lorrie, and Mark.

Her husband Johnny worked as a logger for the “Schwartz Brothers Logging Company”. He was less than a month away from leaving that job to start a new career in the television repair business when tragedy struck: He was killed in a logging truck accident, along with his father Albert Schwartz, on September 10, 1958. Through this tragedy, she learned to rely on God as “Jehovah-Jireh” – the LORD Who will provide.

She didn’t want to leave her young children to go to work, so they had to live on Social Security benefits. Groceries would be almost gone, and bills had to be paid, but because they had built up an inventory of TV tubes for the business they were going to open, God would send someone to her door in need of tubes, and they would buy enough for them to have groceries or whatever was needed. It happened over and over. God also provided her a piano which helped in her healing process and became an on-going relaxing hobby.

It was during this time that God gave her an intense desire to read His Word. After her children were in bed at night, she would sit and read her Bible for hours. It was her comfort. She learned how God refines us through difficult circumstances. Because of her reading and learning, she went on to teach High School Sunday school classes for many years and started a church youth group.

In 1962, Dolores met Ronald Schwartz. He was on a 45-day leave from the army before he was to ship out for another 6 months. During that time, they continually wrote to each other. On October 12, 1962, Ron returned home, and on October 26, they were married. A little over two years later, Suzette was added to the family.

God gave her a real love for cooking along with the ability to cook for large groups. She cooked for many church camps through the 1970’s and 1980’s so cooking for 200 to 300 kids for a week was not a problem. This allowed her to cook at Camp Casey for the school’s outdoor program in 1982, and from 1984 to 1988 she cooked for the Maltby Elementary School. During the 1980’s and up to the early 2000’s she also organized many dinners at the churches she attended. Conversational Dinners, Progressive Dinners, and Christmas Candlelight Dinners. She was always very organized in setting them up and giving detailed instructions to the people involved.

Her greatest love, however, was teaching the Bible, so she went back to teaching and serving the Lord. She spent a lifetime accumulating her Bible knowledge. She taught Vacation Bible School, children’s and high school Sunday school classes, as well as many different women’s Bible studies. She was involved with “Bible Study Fellowship” for 5 & 1/2 years in the 1970’s, where she was a Discussion Leader, taught the Introduction class, and even gave a lecture. She was a trained, certified “Precept Bible Study” teacher. In the mid 1980’s she had the privilege of working with other women from other churches in discussing and learning how to set up ministry opportunities especially for women – what we now know as “Women’s Ministries”. This experience allowed her to serve as the ministry leader for two different churches.

Dolores was also an artist. Her home displayed many of her works done in watercolors. She created many Christmas decorations, including custom Christmas stockings for each family member.

Her husband Ron retired from Boeing in 1995 where he was a Technical Designer for almost 39 years. They had a very good marriage over 63 years, filled with lots of laughs, fun times, family gatherings, memorable trips, cruises, and vacations. God had provided just the right man for her, and they had a very comfortable, enjoyable retirement.

Her later years were plagued by many health issues, and when they slowed her down, her role as a “prayer warrior” took on greater significance to her. She kept a list of all her family members and would pray down that list daily.

Dolores is survived by her husband Ron; daughter Cynthia (Wayne) Flickinger of Monroe, daughter Lorrie (Jeff) Kuhnhenn of Port Orchard, son Mark (Deborah) Schwartz of Carnation, daughter Suzette (Gordy) Dorning of Monroe, 11 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, and one great, great granddaughter.

Dolores will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved her. She was a joyful, shining example of a Godly woman, who loved her family and her God.

A memorial service to celebrate Dolores’s life will be held Saturday, June 6, 2026, at 1:00 pm at Snohomish Community Church, 13622 Dubuque Road, Snohomish. All are welcome to attend.