Karon Schwartz, 70

Dr. Karon S. Schwartz PHD RN, age 70, of Centreville, passed away Tuesday, April 8th, at her home. Karon was born in Muskegon, MI on November 10, 1943, a daughter of Samuel and Jewel (Zeckzer) Stitt. On Thanksgiving Day November 23, 1972 she married James A. Schwartz in Goshen, IN.

Karon graduated from Mt. Carmel High School in Vancleve, KY in 1961. She continued her education at Kentucky Mountian Bible College in Vancleve, receiving an Associates Degree in Religion in 1964. Karon later attended Goshen College receiving her Bachelors Degree in Sociology in 1971. She then pursued her Nursing profession receiving a Masters Degree in Nursing from Andrews University in 1990 and received a PHD in Nursing from Wayne State University in 2002.

Karon began her career as Nursing instructor at Glen Oaks Community College serving from 1990 to 1997 and at Western Michigan University from 1990 to 2001. She has held the title of Graduate Program Nursing Director at Bethel College since 2005 and served as Dean of Nursing from 2008 to 2010. Karon has also served as a Nurse at Three Rivers Health since 1997 and was active in the Hospice program from 1989 to 2001.

Surviving are her husband James A. Schwartz, sons James (Kelly) Schwartz Jr. and their children Leonard and Joel of Leonidas, TJ (Tracy) Schwartz and their children Colton and Dakota, of Centreville, sisters Nancy Miller, Petal, MS; Leah (Robert) Antoniewicz, Antigo, WI; Esther (George) Davis, Fremont, MI, brothers, James (Olivia) Stitt, Hesperia, MI, Ronald (Pauline) Stitt, Holton, MI, Terry (Shirley) Stitt, Three Rivers, Bert (Linda) Stitt, Madison, WI, Sam (Peggy) Stitt III, Hesperia, MI, Michael (Chris) Stitt, Willow, AK, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Relatives and friends will be received Thursday from 2 to 8 P.M at Eley Funeral Home in Centreville and 10 to 11 A.M on Friday at Church of Nazarene in Three Rivers. Religious Service will be held at the Church Friday at 11:00 A.M with Reverend Robert Anderson officiating. Interment of ashes will take place at Oak Grove Cemetery in Centreville. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Three Rivers Health Hospice or Dr. Karon Schwartz Endowment Scholorship c/o Bethel College School of Nursing. Online messages may be left for the family at www.eleyfuneralhomes.com