Ethel Jane Pearson

She was born July 6, 1925, in Chicago, the daughter of Herman and Beatrice (Echterling) Schutz. Ethel graduated from Loretto High School and attended Bryant & Stratton Business School and Loyola University. She worked as a bookkeeper beginning in Chicago for Cahill Bros. and retiring after 22 years at Klitz Cutting Tools in Crystal Lake, the town where she lived for over 60 years.

On August 7, 1954, in Chicago, she married Edwin R. Pearson. After the death of her first husband, she married again on July 26, 1997, in Crystal Lake, to N. Kenneth Pearson.

In addition to raising her family, Ethel loved sewing, needlework, quilting and travel. She was well-known for her beautiful handmade sewing projects and even made her own wedding gown into a communion dress for her granddaughters to wear.

Surviving are two daughters, Christine (James) Arnold of Crystal Lake, Beverly (Doug) Shinneman of St. Joseph, MO; three sons, Kurt (Jodi McPhillips) Pearson of McHenry, Guy (Mary) Pearson of Oregon, WI, and Donald Pearson of Crystal Lake; a stepdaughter / niece Lorine (Ron) Walters of Presque Isle, WI; seven grandchildren, Bethany Arnold, Katelyn Arnold, Drew Shinneman, Shawn Shinneman, Brooke Shinneman, Megan Pearson, and Matthew Pearson; four step-grandchildren, and eleven step-greatgrandchildren; and a special niece Ann (Tony) May of Crystal Lake.

She is preceded in death by her parents, two husbands, her sister, Sister Beatrice Marie, and a stepdaughter / niece, Karla Pearson.

Ethel’s family would like to give special thanks to Journey Care Hospice and all of her caregivers, especially Anne Brown.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7pm on Tuesday, January10th at Querhammer & Flagg Funeral Home, 500 W. Terra Cotta Ave., Crystal Lake. Visitation will continue from 9:00 to 9:45 am prayers on Wednesday, January 11th at the funeral home. Funeral Mass 10 am, at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 451 W. Terra Cotta Ave., Crystal Lake. Interment will follow in Crystal Lake Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church or the Crystal Lake Historical Society. Online condolences may be made at www.querhammerandflagg.com.