Jean Schwarz

1935 - 2021

Jean Schwarz, 86, of Spring, TX died September 17, 2021. Jean was born in Bourbon County, KS on September 4, 1935, to Ila and Elmo Carmean.

Growing up in rural Kansas before the advent of electrification or television, life revolved around shared school and church activities, where Jean was in demand as a pianist for every type of event. She began giving piano lessons and worked her way through Kansas State University in Pittsburg, KS to get her teaching certificate. After teaching for two years in Topeka, KS Jean accepted an assignment teaching school for the Department of Defense in Zweibrucken, Germany in 1960. There, she met a young Army Lieutenant, Robert Schwarz, who she married on February 22, 1962. She had one son and treasured her role as mother as well as wife.

Jean was a lifelong teacher, ultimately teaching for 21 years in the Klein Independent School District. Her pride and joy was establishing the Adolescent Literature program at Kleb Intermediate School, where her love of reading and learning inspired a generation of students who passed through her classroom to love reading as much as she did.

Jean enjoyed many hobbies, was an avid collector, and traveled the world with Bob. Most of all, she loved her garden, where an ever-changing landscape of shrubs and flowers brought her endless joy.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Ila and Elmo Carmean, and brother, Earl Carmean.

She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Robert Schwarz, her son Stephen Schwarz and his partner Michael Naul, and sister-in-law Rhoda Harris.

Special thanks to Dr. Harold Selzman, her valued and trusted physician for many years, and to the staff of MD Anderson West Houston, who spared no effort to make her feel both comfortable and special.

Burial is at Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, in Houston.