Lily Anna Schumacher Colwell-Nelson was born Feb. 10, 1911 in Langley to Richard and Dorothy Schumacher.

She was the second of five children. The oldest was Cora, then Lily, Edna, Elizabeth and Benno. She and her siblings worked on their Dad’s strawberry farm and attended schools in Bayview and Langley. Eventually she and her sisters moved to Renton where Lily worked as a waitress for the Renton Eagles Café.

She met Harry “Spike” Colwell, a bus driver, and married him in 1933. They lived in Bothell for awhile, then moved to Renton where they spent their married lives. They had no children; “Spike” passed away in 1969.

Lily was very active as a volunteer for the American Cancer Society in the local Rosalie Evans Sword Chapter. She also enjoyed playing bridge. Her other interests and hobbies included bowling, sewing, crocheting, knitting, camping and baking. Often you could find her working in her yard and garden, which along with her house, were always immaculate.

She loved to entertain. If you stopped by unexpectedly you were always invited to join her for lunch and homemade cookies. At Christmas she made many varieties of cookies to give to family and friends. Lily also made it a point to always support her many nieces, nephew and friends. She tried to attend or acknowledge as many family and friends’ birthdays, graduations, showers and weddings that she could.

In 1980 she became re-acquainted with her high-school sweetheart, Harold Nelson, and in 1981 they were married. They were able to spend 14 years together traveling and camping until his death in 1995.

Lily was a strong and disciplined person, and maintained a very healthy lifestyle. She continued to drive and wash her car, and mow the lawn until age 90.

She eventually moved to an apartment in Everett where she lived for several years. Months ago it became necessary for her to live in an adult family home in Marysville, where she passed away Aug. 21 at age 95.

She leaves many nieces and nephews whom she dearly loved.