Obituary of Carol Ann Schwisow

Carol Ann (Powell) Schwisow was born on Dec. 7, 1939, in Omaha, Neb. to Edward and Marion (Holst) Powell. She had one sister, Judy (Powell) Free. Carol died on Dec. 15 at Rockwood South Hill Skilled Nursing in Spokane, having struggled with Parkinson's Disease and related issues for over 3 years. Carol was raised in Richland, WA. Her family was active in Masonic work where during her teen years she was elected as a Past Honored Queen of Job's Daughters. Always creative, she was a talented seamstress at a young age, making or redesigning many of her own clothes. She graduated from Richland High School in 1958, and then completed her education at WSU in the field of education, graduating in 1962. She met Del Schwisow in college, and they were married on July 1, 1962. They briefly lived in Pasco and Omak before returning to the Schwisow family farm in 1966. Carol was a busy mother of three sons, was an active substitute teacher in the Ritzville schools and was continually expanding her artistic boundaries. She enjoyed arts and crafts, painting in oils and watercolors and fabric art. She designed and made quilts and hand painted notecards, and did many creative things with her embroidery sewing machine in later years. After she raised her sons, Carol embarked on her next big adventure. In 1984 she established "The Cellar of Treasures," a gift shop in downtown Ritzville which she enjoyed running for over 20 years. "The Cellar" provided her with an outlet to spread her love of arts and crafts with the community. She was a 50 year member and Past President of AAUW, a founding member and Past President of Beta Sigma Phi, and a member of Emanuel Lutheran Church where she organized many arts and crafts activities for the children. She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Del, and three sons and their families, Scott and Eileen, Spencer and Chase of Kirkland; Craig and MaryEllen, Sterling and Pearson of Chandler Arizona, and Todd and Justine, Dillon and Zachary of Seattle; sister Judy (Ken) Free of Auburn, and sister-in-law Karen Miles of O'Fallon, Illinois. We give thanks to loving family and relatives, wonderful friends, and loyal college and high school classmates who visited, sent cards, and called often. Viewing will be at Danekas Funeral Home in Ritzville on Wednesday December 21 from 12 Noon to 5:00 PM and Thursday Dec. 22 from 8:00 Am to 10:00 AM. Interment will be held at the Lutheran Cemetery in Ritzville at 11:00 am on Thurs. Dec 22. A Memorial Service will begin at 1:00 pm at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Ritzville, followed by a reception in the church social room. Memorials may be made to Emanuel Lutheran Scholarship Fund or the Michael J. Fox Foundation to fight Parkinson's Disease. If you supported the Michael J. Fox Foundation and Scott's recent run in the New York City Marathon, please consider that your Memorial Gift.