Gwendolyn Schofield

Mary Gwendolyn “Gwen” Warren Dean Schofield (June 20, 1925 – May 15, 2023) lived a life shaped by service, family, and a quiet devotion to teaching. Born in Rockford, Illinois, she was the fourth of seven daughters and grew up during difficult times that forged her resilient spirit. Her family moved when she was young, and those early years—spent where her parents taught farming skills to Crow Native Americans—left Gwen with a deep respect for work, community, and education.

Gwen began her teaching career young, stepping into classrooms during World War II when there was a national need for educators. She later completed her bachelor’s degree in education at Utah State University and taught for some 30 years across several states, including Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Georgia, Kansas, Hawaii, and Idaho. Teaching remained central to her identity; even after retirement she continued to give back by volunteering with a literacy program in Farmington, New Mexico.

Family was at the heart of Gwen’s life. She married Raymond E. Dean in 1946 and together they raised four children. She later married Charles B. Schofield and treasured a large, close-knit extended family that included children, grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren. Gwen delighted in practical, hands-on expressions of care: she tended a generous garden, preserved the harvest through canning, and was known in her family for her dill pickles and her skill in the kitchen. She encouraged education for future generations and provided financial support to help her great-grandchildren pursue schooling.

Gwen’s faith guided her actions and gave shape to her years of service. She and her husband embraced the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many church roles; later they served a two-year mission in Düsseldorf, Germany. Her family remembers her as a steadfast, generous woman whose example of faith, teaching, and hospitality will continue to influence them.

Gwen was preceded in death by husbands Raymond Dean and Charles Schofield, her parents, several siblings, and other family members. She is survived by children, numerous grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren who will carry forward her legacy of care, learning, and community. The family held services in Farmington, New Mexico, to honor her life. Gwen’s long life—marked by dedication to teaching, family, and faith—left a lasting, gentle imprint on those who knew her.