Marsha Diana Schwartz, 75 of Pass Christian, Mississippi, passed away at 9:00 p.m. Friday, January 16, 2026, surrounded by family in Ocean Springs Hospital, Ocean Springs, Mississippi due to complications associated with Alzheimer’s.

Marsha was born on December 17, 1950 in Sullivan, Illinois, the daughter of Charles and Rachel Murphy Taylor. As one of the Taylor girls, Marsha worked at the Dairy Queen. She would always greet customers with a smile as she did with everyone throughout her life. Marsha was courted at the Dairy Queen by John R. Schwartz of Bethany. They would later marry on January 28, 1970 in the Jonathan Creek Christian Church, rural Sullivan. John preceded her in death on February 19, 2021.

Marsha was a sister, wife, mom, and Meme. As a wife and mother, she lived in many places with her husband John due to his military service. Herlong, California; Omaha, Nebraska; Wurzburg, Germany; Fort Sill, Oklahoma; Fort Meade, Maryland; Saks, Alabama; League City, Texas; and lastly, the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Her dream was to live on the beach in Pensacola, Florida. Marsha’s favorite pass times included bowling, writing poems about God and family, going to the beach, eating out and shopping. She lived by the slogan shop until you drop. Marsha was a beautiful woman who didn’t know it. She had an infectious smile. Often in public, people would mistake her for the actress Marlo Thomas. Marsha was also strong in her faith and devoted time to reading scripture. She had a strong personal relationship with Jesus. Marsha loved raising her children, Toby and Rachel. As a Mom, she did so without hesitation and routinely sacrificed her personal needs. She was passionate about helping others. She had a soft spot in her heart for the elderly and would always offer them assistance. Living in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Marsha worked for the American Red Cross and handled their crisis hotline. In Alabama, Marsha became a grandmother, best known as Meme. It was her second calling. Meme had five grandchildren and later four great grandchildren. She genuinely loved and adored children. Marsha was a member of First Christian Church-Sullivan and frequented First United Methodist Church-Gulfport, Mississippi.

Survivors include her son Toby (Sylia) Schwartz of Pass Christian, Mississippi; and daughter, Rachel (Jarrod) Adams of Houston, Texas. Grandchildren are Ciara (Brian) Bagwell, their children Sebastian and Isabelle of Carrolton, Georgia; John Tristan (Jessica) Schwartz, their children Declan and Keaton of Biloxi, Mississippi; Titus Schwartz, and Heidi Schwartz of Pass Christian Mississippi, and Taylor Schwartz of Webster, Texas. Her beloved sisters, Karen (Gary) McCoy of The Villages, Florida and Kathy (Kent) Schwerin of Flanagan, Illinois. Surviving sister-n-laws include Janet (Alex) Shealy, Shirley (Lowell) Ford of Bethany, Zona (Jerry) Speasal of Las Vegas. And many precious nieces and nephews.

Marsha is now reunited with her husband John and her sister and brother -n- law, Rochelle and Ike Boyd of Lovington. Her parents that she missed dearly, sister-n-law’s Peggy Greco-Ipolito, LouAnn Banks, Kay Atkinson, and her dear mother-n-law, Jeanette (Granny) Schwartz.

Visitation will be from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. followed by a Celebration of Life service on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan, Illinois. Close family friend, Toby Scribner will officiate. Private family burial will be in the Marrowbone Township Cemetery, Bethany, Illinois. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Home Under the Dome, an interactive program for seniors with cognitive impairments. For donations, please send to:

First United Methodist Church-Gulfport 2301 15th Street, Gulfport, MS 39501 Memo: Home Under the Dome