Myra Lee Rotherham Schwebel died quietly at her home in Ponte Vedra, Florida, on Tuesday, Nov. 22, surrounded by her family. She had been treated for cancer for the past seven years.
Myra was born to Matilda (Bauer) and James Rotherham on June 27, 1945, in Ewing, Nebraska, the sixth of nine children. She attended school in Ewing except for her freshman and sophomore years at St. Mary’s Academy in O’Neill, Nebraska. She graduated from high school in 1963 and continued her education at the University of Nebraska, graduating from the School of Journalism in 1967. She began her career at the Decatur Herald, where she met her husband Michael. They were married June 8, 1968. She continued her journalism career at the DuQuoin (Illinois) Call, then in Florida at The Palm Beach Post, The Fort Lauderdale News-Sun-Sentinel and the Hollywood Sun-Tattler.
Myra began her second career in education after attending Florida Atlantic University, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 1978. She later received her Master of Education and taught for 21 years in South Florida schools, the last 14 years at Lighthouse Elementary in Jupiter, Florida. She was among the first Florida teachers to earn National Board Certification status. She retired in June 2007.
Myra was an avid tennis player and enjoyed playing Mah Jongg, pinochle, crossword puzzles and Sudoku. She was a devout Catholic and for several years served as a Eucharistic Minister at St. John Paul II parish in Nocatee, Florida.
She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Michael; her children Michele (Doug) Smith, Monica (Ben) Willis, and Michael Jr. (Kelli); grandchildren Riley, Jake and Bella Smith; Jack, Mason and Sam Willis; Jameson Schwebel and step-grandchildren Elsa and Lacey Lago; sisters and brother Helen Kronschnabel, Sister Joseph (Beverly) of the Missionaries of Charity, Annette (John) Wanser, Rita (Russell) Harder, Brenda Rotherham (Jim Kessler), Joseph (Patricia) Rotherham, sister-in-law Donita Rotherham and brother-in-law Rodney Johnson.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Ronald and sister Kay, and brother-in-law John Kronschnabel.
Funeral Services will be held Saturday, January 7, 2023, 10 am at St. John Paul II Catholic Church in Nocatee. The service will be livestreamed on nocateecatholic.com/livestream-mass/
A reception will follow at the Anastasia Club in Dell Webb Nocatee.
Memorial donations may be made to the St. John Paul II Capital Campaign or the Mayo Clinic.
