Ewy, Mary Jones Schwendener (1887-1969)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1969 Jul 17 p. 11

Birth date: 1887 Jun 20

text of obituary:

MRS. MARY EWY

Mary Jones Ewy was born in McMinnville, Tenn. on June 20, 1887 and died in North Acres Manor Convalescent Hospital, Kingsburg, Calif. on June 22 at the age of 82 years and two days.

In her early childhood the family moved to Moundridge, Kan. and established their home. At the age of five she lost her mother by death and at the age of eight her father died. She then made her home with her oldest sister and brother-in-law, the late Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Eymann.

In 1904 moved to Reedley, Calif. with the Eymann family. In 1910 after the death of her sister Mrs. Eymann, she assumed the household duties and care of the five children, two of them are still living: Mrs. Neva Hall and Mrs. Gladys Almquist.

She was always interested in the mission program and work of the church and organized the Junior Christina Endeavor in the early days of our church. Mary had a desire to enter into full-time missionary work and enrolled in and was graduated from the Los Angeles Bible Institute. Upon finding the doors closed to her for a missionary career, she entered the maternity nurses training school in Portland, Ore. Mary then followed that profession for many years.

In 1929 she was married to Henry Schwendener and moved to Enterprise, Kansas. After his death in 1941, she moved back to Reedley and pursued her profession as nurse in the Reedley Hospital until 1953, when she retired. Mary is remembered with great appreciation for her services by a host of former patients and their families.

In 1956 Mary was married to Reinhold Ewy who survives her. Besides her husband, those who cherish her memory are the stepchildren: Daniel and wife Frances of Fresno, Frances and husband Henry Woodward of Los Altos, Raymond and wife Ellen of Parlier, and Arnold and wife Melva of Parlier; also nine grandchildren, two nephews and seven nieces among other relatives and friends.

Mary was a person of cheerful disposition with a great zest for life, and we shall miss her as a companion and friend in the Ewy family. Her delight in her grandchildren was only equally by their fondness for her. — Reinhold Ewy.

The Mennonite obituary: 1969 Jul 15 p. 458