Jill Schwanke

JENNIFER JILL BROWN SCHWANKEAn Extraordinary WomanJill Brown Schwanke was born December 12, 1944 and gifted back to her parents in Heaven, on the anniversary of their marriage, July 15, 2012. Jill is survived by daughter, Jenny Lou Crable; twin granddaughters, Melissa and Kimberly Crable; grandson, Albert Junior (AJ) Crable; and soon a great-grandchild; her sisters, Jere Berry and Jo Anne Blount; and brothers, Jim and John Brown. Jill was preceded in death by her parents, Blanchard Welton Brown and Frances Read Brown of Roswell, NM. Jill's life was one of trials and triumph. At the age of nine months, she was stricken with polio and lost use of her legs. She coped through innovation, self-reliance, practicality and fearlessness. After little Jill was featured on the cover of Parade Magazine, Shriner's Children's Hospital took up her cause. Under their care, Jill's early years were spent in Salt Lake City undergoing a pioneering transplant surgery which extended her abdominal muscles to her legs. As a result her mobility improved to the point that she could toss out the dreaded leg braces and use crutches to do everything, including her share of household chores, dishwashing and cooking. She even walked the three miles down to the bottom of Carlsbad Caverns, scaring the Park Ranger half to death and thoroughly delighting our determined Jill. After Jill graduated from Grants High School she attended Texas Woman's University in Denton. She never complained about lugging books all over campus but was thrilled when she got the golf cart Dad procured for her. Needless to say, she had many run-ins with campus police and an occasional wall. Of course the next improved mode of transportation was a vehicle. After college, Jere and Jill installed hand controls in Jill's new car and the real terror on wheels began. The family has many hysterical anecdotes about Jill's care-free attitude driving through the streets of El Paso with a cigarette in one hand, one hand on the wheel and a cup of coffee in her lap while talk talk talking. Jill was a licensed Occupational Therapist and with a Master's of Education and Guidance Counseling from Boston University. She was the recipient of awards including recognition in Who's Who of American Women, Handicapped Employee of the Year in El Paso, Army Suggestion Award, and was a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association, and El Paso Association of Occupational and Physical Therapists. She loved her work. Her clients were most fortunate to have had her example to follow as she helped them learn how to cope with their own disabilities. She was proud of her profession and that she could support herself well and always pay her own way. Jill was fiercely independent and didn't take guff from anyone. She could knock you over at 30 feet with a crutch if you angered her. Her arms were so strong that the high school sports coach challenged anyone to beat Jill at arm wrestling. She beat one after another until a little muscle fatigue let the last challenger, a football star, barely win. There wasn't much Jill wouldn't try. She was always ready for an adventure. She rode horseback, bouncing around in an alarming fashion: Likewise on 3-wheelers out in the desert. All by herself she would climb 15 feet up to the diving board and then let'er go back into the water. When she gave birth, her optimism proved out over the worries of doctors and family members. True to Jill's style, she popped Baby Jennie out almost before she was in the delivery room. She had the last laugh on that one. She loved to get out on the boat at Elephant Butte Lake and didn't object to the engine-hoist flight she took to get aboard. While living in Germany she toured Europe with her husband riding motorcycles and sidecars. She was astute at Chess, an excellent marksman, devoted reader of Ayn Rand and J.R. Tolkien, painted in oils and water color, loved music boxes, country music, Neil Diamond, our debonair cousin Mike, somehow contrived a way to use the foot pedal on the sewing machine to make baby clothes, weaved, was a strong swimmer, loved horses, and dogs, especially Cocker Spaniels, and her final and best friend, Spike! Jill enjoyed good food and good coffee and loved family gatherings and off-colored jokes. She taught herself Spanish when she lived in Nuevo Laredo, TX. Some of her last words were in Spanish, probably bad ones. Our wish is that Jill's posterity may learn of her sterling character and recognize and cherish those same qualities in themselves. On Jill's behalf and from her family as well, we thank all who have loved and cared for her. We treasure each one of you who have helped Jill along the way and shared the times of her life. She is free. May God Bless,The BrownsFor those who wish, memorial contributions may be made to Shiner's Hospital for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, FL 33607-1460 or donorrelations@shrinenet.org or the National MS Society, 3504 Pan American Frw. NE, Ste F, Albuquerque, NM 87107 or NMX@NMSS.org.