Priscilla Louise Schowalter
Priscilla was a fearless adventurer, curious student, generous listener, animated story-teller, concerned citizen, thoughtful friend, devoted grandmother, and committed wife. In addition to her warmth and easy laugh, she will be forever remembered for being pragmatic, playful, and fun-loving. Priscilla's infinite kindness and generosity extended to all, but no one was safe from being knocked off balance by her wit and humor! The joy she triggered in every baby, toddler, or young child she encountered as she shopped or walked her neighborhood was mirrored in her. She was pure love and light and will be mourned, missed, and fondly remembered by thousands of people she touched with her genuine, radiant spirit.
In 2004, Priscilla and Lyn made Jeremy Ranch, Utah their home and welcomed Priscilla’s grandson, Andrew, in 2007. Able to officially adopt Andrew, appreciate the love and acceptance extended to them as a family by friends in Utah and California, neighbors, relatives, and Andrew's Park City classmates, parents and teachers. Priscilla passed away suddenly from heart failure in Park City on the afternoon of May 25, 2020. Most important to Priscilla were friends and family: spouse Lyn McCarter and grandson Andrew Blessing-Schowalter (Park City, UT), 99-year-old mother, Lou McCreary (Crystal Falls, MI), brother Rod (Linda) McCreary (Long Beach, CA), and son Aaron Schowalter (Southern CA). Priscilla was predeceased by her adopted sons, Bradley Schowalter and Corey Schowalter (2018 and 2020, respectively) and sister, Charlean Stahley (2020).
Born July 3, 1943, Priscilla Louise Schowalter grew up with a loving family in Grosse Ile, Michigan, reading comic books in the barn with her "best friend"--her horse, Sue! The family was transferred to Long Beach, CA, where Priscilla completed high school and her degree in Elementary Education at Cal State/Long Beach. She taught briefly before becoming a full-time mother. Re-entering the job market in the 70s, Priscilla apprenticed as a cabinet maker and later established a successful career as a hardware representative for Louis and Company in California. For the remainder of her career and life she enthusiastically applied her woodworking and other home improvement skills, designing and remodeling her own homes and homes of friends, and building decks, furniture, and yard structures. Her beloved cabin at her mother’s property on Fortune Lake in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula was never far from her thoughts and heart, returning there multiple times each year to reminisce upon her childhood and visit family. Sitting alone on the dock in the morning hours with a cup of coffee and feeling the sky, clouds, trees, and water was her most private joy. A fantastic cook, Priscilla enjoyed preparing appetizers and dishes for parties and could always find an Ina Garten recipe for meals at home or to share that never failed to please her family and friends. She enjoyed entertaining and her daily glass of Sauvignon Blanc with the same level of satisfaction. She was a blur as she worked in her garden, energy unflagging and pent up from the long Park City winters, until the day she died. Thrilled to see her yard begin to bounce back this spring, she eagerly waited for Park City Nursery to open so she could select new plants.
To honor Priscilla and her impact on your life, please consider donating to any or all of the following charities: St. Jude Children’s Hospital, the National MS Society, and ActBlue. A celebration of Priscilla’s life will be held with friends, family, and neighbors in her summer garden on Saturday, June 27, 10am to noon. Guidelines for limiting the number of persons in outdoor gatherings that are in effect in Summit County will be followed.