On May 21, 2024, Elizabeth May Schulze, aged 79, passed away in Corpus Christi, Texas, and ascended to her eternal home. She was born on April 30, 1945, in Weed, California, to her parents Herbert and Bonnie (Arnold) Brown, both of whom were ministers. As a result, the family frequently moved residences. Elizabeth had a half-brother named Bobby, who, due to a medical condition, was confined to a wheelchair. This greatly influenced her decision to become a nurse later in life.

Elizabeth, who also went by the names "Betty" or "Liz," graduated from Colusa High School in Colusa, California in 1963. She pursued a nursing career by attending Kaiser Nursing School in Oakland, California, where she belonged to the class of 1966. Subsequently, she furthered her education at the University of Redlands, class of 1975.

On January 1, 1965, Elizabeth met her husband John at a New Year's service held at the First Assembly of God in Oakland, California. John was captivated by this lovely blonde girl, and the two fell in love. After a year of dating, they tied the knot on July 30, 1966, and would celebrate 57 wonderful anniversaries together.

Following their wedding, Elizabeth underwent basic training as an Army Nurse at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. Holding the rank of 2nd Lieutenant, she outranked her husband, who was a Sergeant in the National Guard. They often got a chuckle from attending officer parties together, with Elizabeth dressed in her uniform and John in his civies. Elizabeth served her country as a general duty nurse at Letterman General Hospital in San Francisco, California, and was honored with the National Defense Service Medal.

Upon leaving the Army, the couple resided briefly in Oakland before purchasing a home in San Jose. It was in San Jose where they raised their two children, Jon and Laura.

Elizabeth worked at Kaiser Hospital, in the emergency room— a field she truly cherished. However, due to a back injury sustained while assisting a patient, she eventually transitioned to the role of an advice nurse. Following her time at Kaiser Hospital, Elizabeth spent nearly 20 years working as an Occupational Health Nurse and Employee Assistance Plan Manager at Varian Associates. She concluded her working career at Applied Materials, retiring in 2007.

Throughout her life, she and John embarked on numerous travels, with one of the highlights being a month-long trip to Paris. Their trips often included motorcycling, skiing, hiking, and spending time with great friends. One of their favorite places to visit was the Oregon coast, which they affectionately called their "happy place."

In 2023, Elizabeth and her husband relocated to Corpus Christi to be near her granddaughters, whom she adored. In addition to spending quality time with her family, she enjoyed activities such as reading, cooking, birding, spending time by the ocean, and continuing her commitment to serving others through volunteer work.

Elizabeth was preceded in death by her half-brother, Robert (Bobby) Brown, her father Herbert Brown, her mother Bonnie Arnold Brown, and her son Jon Eric Schulze.

She is survived by her husband, John Schulze, her daughter Laura Merrill and son-in-law Matthew Merrill, her grandchildren Emma Merrill and Matilda Merrill, her brother Philip Brown and sister-in-law Sandy Brown, and her niece Jefri Brown Wosachlo.

While Elizabeth's passing has left us with an undeniable sense of loss, we take comfort in knowing that she touched numerous lives with her sincere warmth and compassion. Kind, funloving, and innately nurturing, her radiant smile was a light in the lives of those who knew her. She will be deeply missed.

Memorial Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 4, 2024 , at the Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery located at 9974 IH 37 Access Rd. Full Military Honors will be accorded during the service. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in her name to the American Cancer Society, an organization that she supported.