Mavis Swan

Mavis Swan Mavis was born to George Schmidt and Theresa Tlougan on February 26, 1929 in Washaba County, Minnesota. She passed away peacefully in her home with her family on January 20, 2017 at the age of 87. After losing her mother at the age of 6, she spent the majority of her childhood in an orphanage with some of her siblings. At the age of 18, after graduating high school, Mavis made the journey from Minnesota to southern California. In March 1959, Mavis married her husband, Harlan, and they soon became pregnant with their first child. Mavis spent over 15 years working at Columbia Bowl, one of her favorite places. She was a constant staple and a fabulous bowler. Besides bowling, Mavis was also passionate about making and sewing together every piece of clothing her children ever wore. Her home had a large vegetable garden and fruit trees as far as the eye could see. She made the most delicious preserves, and she always loved to tell the story of her blue-ribbon sourdough bread, which she baked every Monday for family and friends. Cooking was one of her greatest passions. After the death of her husband in 1995, Mavis moved from the family home in Bradbury to northern California, in order to be close to family. A few years later, she moved to Florida, where she had many wonderful years with her twin sister. In 2011, Mavis suffered a massive heart failure and was in a drug-induced coma for many weeks. After finally waking up, she had to learn to walk and talk and do everything all over again. Not many were optimistic that her quality of life would ever be good again, but the one thing her family always knew is that she is one stubborn German lady. Every goal put in front of her, she surpassed with flying colors. When she finally moved from the hospital to a rehabilitation center, the doctors and staff told her that most people in her situation never get to go home again, and from the beginning, she said she was going home! Only a few months later, she was well enough to go home and eventually became completely independent again, as if nothing had ever happened. In June 2012, Mavis got a phone call from her granddaughter, Meshé, asking her what she thought of the idea of moving to Oregon to live with her family. It didn’t take long for her to accept and within the month, she was across the country living in a home full of children’s laughter and lots of love. It was here that she stayed, even through a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease in 2015. During her time in Oregon, she continued to be an avid reader of mystery books, enjoyed BINGO on Wednesdays at the Senior Center with her daughter, Sheila, and always made it to church at St. Mark’s Catholic Church every weekend while she was able. When she passed away, Mavis was surrounded by this same family, surrounded by love. Mavis was always incredibly generous and always there for her family, and it was in that spirit that her family tried to give back to her, to give her even a fraction of the happiness she provided to them. It is because of this home and this love that her family believes she was able to hold on to so many important things while this horrible disease took its course. She forgot many, many things, and couldn’t retain any new memories, but she never forgot who anyone was and she was joking about losing her mind right up to the very end. Where usually this disease makes a person angry, her family saw her become much more gentle and playful and kind. Her smile was always on and she made everyone around her smile, too, even in the darkest of times. She is survived by her twin sister, Mary Schmidt, her brother Richard Schmidt, her daughters, Sheila & Terry Swan, her grandchildren, Meshé Klingler, Amber Beckemeyer, Brandi & Jocelyn Foos, and her great-grandchildren, Xander & Liam Klingler, and Damian Solano. She is preceded in death by her husband of 36 years, Harlan Swan, and her brothers, Art & Omer & Everett Schmidt. A potluck gathering to celebrate her life will be held on her birthday, Sunday, February 26, at the Celeste Campbell Senior Center on High Street in Eugene, 3PM – 5PM. The family asks that all flowers, condolences, and donations be sent to her home at 655 Goodpasture Island Rd #206, Eugene, OR 97401, c/o Meshé Klingler. Please feel free to sign the guestbook at musgroves.com and share of few memories of Mavis.