Mary Eileen Schumacker passed from this Earth on Saturday, May 27, 2017, at Yakima Regional Hospital surrounded by her children and loved ones. To the end she displayed the strength and tenacity for life that had saved her in so many crises in the past. Her family dearly hoped that she would be with them longer but her time had come.
Mary was born in Seattle, WA June 23, 1932, to Orion and Geraldine Bozarth. After graduating from Immaculate Conception High School in 1950 she moved to Yakima where she trained to become a registered nurse at Saint Elizabeth School of Nursing, and went on to work at Yakima Memorial Hospital. She married Ervin Schumacker in 1955 and eight years later took a break from her nursing career to raise their growing family. Following the untimely death of Ervin in 1976, Mary went back to work full-time as a registered nurse at Toppenish Community Hospital to support her five children still at home. She somehow managed to work, raise a family, have a rich social life with her many nursing friends, and stay connected with her many brothers, sisters and in-laws. Mary never forgot a birthday, and was always there in time of need for any family or friends. Her laugh was nothing less than epic.
At her side when she passed were daughter Jacqueline (Jae) Huh, son Jerry (Judy) Schumacker, son Jeff and granddaughter Hannah Schumacker, daughter Julie and husband Carl Jorgensen, and son Joe Schumacker. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ervin Schumacker, in 1976 and a daughter, Mary Corrine Schumacker, in 2010, as well as sisters, Barbara (Sammy) Anderson, Margaret Haynes and both of her parents.
As she retired into her golden years, her home in Toppenish where Mary raised her family became the center of holidays and summer visits for all her children and grandchildren. She happily spent many years of retirement doing her daily crossword puzzle and sticking it to them on Jeopardy! She took many trips to visit family, and made a special trip to Ireland with two of her sisters to visit the country of origin of her mother’s family. Mary proudly lived on her own and maintained her independence until the end. Things will never be the same without her but her legacy of laughter, love and caring will be carried on by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in her honor. She will never be forgotten.
Mary is survived by her five surviving children and their spouses, grandchildren Tyler, Kyle, Mary Grace, Evan, Sarah, Patrick, Emma, Nicholas, Hannah, Ben, Stevie, Michael and Caroline; one great-granddaughter, Olivia; two sisters, Beatrice Walker and Elizabeth Lanier; two brothers, John (Jack) Bozarth and Stephan Bozarth; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Sunday, June 4, 2017 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. at Keith & Keith Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, June 5, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, followed by burial at Calvary Cemetery.
To share a memory and celebrate the life of Mary, please visit www.keithandkeith.com.
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