Nancy Schwark

Clyde, Nancy Jo Dowless Schwark, age 77, passed away on Sunday, January 23, 2022, at Asheville Specialty Hospital.

Born in July, 1944 at the Carlisle Barracks Army Hospital in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Nancy Rebok Dowless.  Nancy traveled around the world as an Army daughter.  She attended Southwest Texas State College where she was a member of the Strutter dance team and performed for Lyndon B. Johnson’s inauguration in 1964.  After graduating with her bachelor’s degree, she went on to receive her Master of Education degree from North Texas State University.  She taught in the Texas Education System for over 30 years.  After moving to North Carolina, Nancy taught 4th grade at Junaluska Elementary School. She was very active in the community and served as Guardian Ad Litem for 15 years in Haywood County.  Nancy enjoyed knitting, painting and was a master gardener.  She was very artistic and an avid rug hooker.  She was recently featured on the cover of “Celebration” magazine for her prize-winning rug design “Autumn Sun”.  She was a member of Long’s Chapel United Methodist Church.

Nancy is survived by her husband of 25 years, Doug Schwark; son, David Bounds, and his wife, Kelly; two grandchildren, Cullen and Caroline Bounds, of Sanger, Texas; sister, Sarah Beth Dowless-Black, and her husband, Jan, of Asheville; stepson, Christopher Schwark, and his wife, Jessica, of Houston, Texas; and her former husband, Billy Art Bounds, of Sanger, Texas.

A celebration of Life will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 5, 2022 in the sanctuary of Long’s Chapel United Methodist Church with Reverend Betsy Caudill officiating.

In honor of Nancy’s favorite cause, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made to the National CASA/GAL Association for Children. Donations can be made at: https://nationalcasagal.org/ .  The National CASA/GAL Association for Children supports and promotes court appointed volunteer advocacy for both children and youth who have experienced abuse or neglect. Nancy helped children in Haywood County for 15 years serving as their advocate.

The care of Mrs. Schwark has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville.