Jane Ellen Schafer Hilliard passed away on May 26, 2023, at the age of 73. Jane was born on February 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 that 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 life-long love of animals began in girlhood when she doctored

every creature from tadpoles to her beloved Chihuahua, Poncho. She was raised and confirmed in the

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" Hilliard on

September 6, 1969. They raised three children, Melissa, Emily and Jacob. They were married for fifty-one

years. Jane greatly enjoyed small town life in Connell, WA, where Tom established his first dental

practice. Twenty years later, they moved to Moses Lake, WA, where Tom joined the dental practice of

Jane's cousin, Darrell Schafer.

Jane's love language was giving gifts. She delighted in giving gifts at Christmas time, for birthdays, but

mostly, "just because." She shared years-long gift exchanges of all things weird and tacky with many

including her brother, Evan, and good friend of forty-two 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, WA in February 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 a devotional time on the phone every

morning. She also talked with her brother, Reid, and her good friend of seventy-two 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 all of her people. Despite her many difficult days, Jane

concentrated on the person on the other end of the phone line, offering 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 through life, her "I can

do it myself!" became "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

The family wishes to thank all of the people who helped care for Jane, especially during the last three

years. Dr. Joseph Salinas, Dr. Kemesha Delisser, Amanda Yanska, ARNP, Heather Hart, RN, and all the

staff at Parkview Estates who provided such kind and compassionate care for Jane. A most heartfelt

thank you to Lyuba Angeniy, Jane's caregiver (now considered family) of ten years.

Jane was preceded in death by her parents Paul and Dorothy Schafer. She is survived by her children

Melissa Macduff (Matt), Emily Morehouse (Wade), and Jacob Hilliard (Brooke), by her brothers Keith

Schafer (Leanna), Evan Schafer (Debbie), and Reid Schafer (Beth), by nine grandchildren and one great

granddaughter. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on June 10th at Bethlehem Lutheran Church

in Kennewick. A private graveside service will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please donate

to You Medical (youmedical.org). Jane was always concerned about the needs of the pre-born. You

Medical is a Christian ministry that supports pregnant women.