Jane Ellen Schafer Hilliard

Jane Ellen Schafer Hilliard

Feb. 27, 1950 – May 26, 2023

Jane Ellen Schafer Hilliard, 73, passed away May 26, 2023.

Jane was born Feb. 27, 1950, to Paul and Dorothy Schafer, the only girl in a wheat farming family with three brothers. Jane’s first words were,” I do it myself,” and the phrase revealed the true grit personality that she possessed her entire life.

Being the youngest of the “neighborhood girls” did not hold her back from leading the pack in small town adventures. Jane’s lifelong love of animals began in girlhood when she doctored every creature from tadpoles to her beloved Chihuahua, Poncho.

She was raised and confirmed in Odessa Christ Lutheran Church, which provided the foundation for a resolute child-like faith that stuck with her the rest of her life.

Jane graduated from Odessa High School in 1968. She married William “Tom” Hillard on Sept. 6, 1969. They raised three children: Melissa, Emily and Jacob.

They were married for 51 years. Jane greatly enjoyed small town life in Connell, Wash., where Tom established his first dental practice. Twenty years later, they moved to Moses Lake, Wash., where Tom joined the dental practice of Jane’s cousin, Darrel Schafer.

Jane’s love language was giving gifts. She delighted in giving gifts at Christmas time, for birthdays, but mostly “just because.”

She shared long gift exchanges of all things weird and tacky with many people including her brother, Evan, and good friend of 42 years, Kristi Kent. Jane mailed hundreds of greeting cards over the years for all occasions or no occasion at all. She loved to talk on the telephone and had a network of family and friends with whom she kept in contact all across the country.

Jane moved to Tri-Cities, Wash. in Feb. of 2020 to be closer to her daughters. Despite the Covid lockdown at her assisted living home, Jane continued to keep up with family and friends via the telephone. With her older brother, Keith, she began having devotional time on the phone each morning. Jane talked to her brother, Reid, and her good friend of 72 years, Barb Walter, nearly every day. Even during her hospital stays, Jane always packed her little black book of phone numbers so that she could stay in contact with her people. Despite many difficult days, Jane concentrated on the person on the other end of the phone. She would offer words of encouragement and wisdom. Jane never failed to tell people of the Lord’s bountiful mercy toward her. She told of how Jesus went before her and prepared a path of blessing just for her. As Jane journeyed though her life, her “I can do it myself” became “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

The family wishes to thank all the people, doctors, and nurses who helped care for Jane, especially during the last three years. They would like also like to thank the staff at Parkview Estates who provided such kind and compassionate care for Jane.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to Lyuba Angeniy, Jane’s caregiver of 10 years, who is now considered family.

Jane was preceded in death by her parents Paul and Dorothy Schafer.

She is survived by children, Melissa (Matt) Macduff, Emily (Wade) Morehouse and Jacob (Brooke) Hillard; brothers, Keith (Leanna) Schafer, Evan (Debbie) Schafer and Reid (Beth) Schafer; nine grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.

The memorial service was June 10, 2023, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Kennewick, Wash. A graveside service will take place at 11 a.m., July 15, 2023, in Odessa Cemetery

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Support you Medical at supportyoumedical.org. Jane was always concerned about the needs of unborn babies. Support You Medical is a Christian ministry that supports pregnant women. Share fond memories of Jane at muellerfuneralhomes.com.