WOOLWICH — Willow Ann Schwarz died at Maine Medical Center, July 19, 2017 from complications of flu and pneumonia. Willow was born in Portland on January 19, 1956 to John M. Schwarz and Jean E. (Ackerman) Schwarz. She was raised in South Freeport and later moved to New Gloucester, Pownal, and then Woolwich.

She attended Freeport and Gray- New Gloucester schools and graduated from the Horticulture program at Southern Maine Vocational Technical Institute.

Willow loved the outdoors and adventure. She grew up hiking, camping, rockhounding, canoeing, and cross-country skiing. She even hitchhiked across the United States and to Mexico in the 1970’s. She loved all animals, but especially her horses, dogs and sheep. She grew up as a member of the South Freeport “barn gang” at the Sanborn’s horse farm and she was an accomplished equestrian and teamster.

Willow worked as a selfemployed gardener for many years, before joining her partner, David Jewell at Landcrafters, LLC sixteen years ago. She specialized in creating and maintaining beautiful flower gardens for clients throughout Midcoast and Southern Maine. She also enjoyed creating unique and magical flower bouquets and arrangements for weddings and other special events for friends and clientele. Some of her other endeavors over the years included raking blueberries, picking apples, pruning fruit trees, making maple syrup, and making Christmas wreaths. Her knowledge of all things regarding plants and trees was encyclopedic.

Primarily, Willow was a most generous and loving partner, daughter, sister and friend. She had a wonderful ability to connect and communicate with all living things and truly cared about all her family and friends.

She was predeceased by her father, who had sailed with Admiral MacMillan on the schooner Bowdoin to Greenland, and went down with the schooner Windfall in an Atlantic hurricane in 1963. She was also predeceased by her mother, who passed away from cancer in 1980.

She is survived by and will be dearly missed by her partner, David Jewell, and mother-in-law, Alice Jewell of Woolwich; stepfather, Owen Haskell of New Gloucester; siblings, Amy Schwarz and her partner James McGuire of British Columbia, Meg Haskell and her partner Barb Ames of Brunswick, and Will Haskell and his wife Veronica of Raymond; eight nephews, Ray, Herb and Joe Hyder, Jack Haskell, William and David Lynch, Miles Bradshaw, and Richard Harris; two nieces, Laura Anne Lee and Kelsey Harris; her aunt, Diane Ackerman; and many cousins and extended family.

The family expresses their gratitude to Willow’s friend, Dr. Terry Ann Scriven of Cape Elizabeth, who provided love, sensitivity, guidance, and Willow’s favorite flowers throughout her illness.

All those who knew and loved Willow are encouraged to plant something truly beautiful in their own gardens in her memory. A celebration of Willow’s life will be held at the George J. Mitchell Field (1410 Harpswell Neck Road, Harpswell, ME), on Saturday, August 19, 2017, from 1 to 5 pm. Donations in memory of Willow may be made to the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA), at their website https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/1434514?code=N FG+Donate+Now+MOFGA

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