Len Ray Schwarz, 85, left this world to be with his heavenly Father on Oct. 18, 2025.
Len was born on March 5, 1940 to Leonard and Mary Crawford Schwarz in Heppner. He graduated from Heppner High School in 1958, where he was active in the Honor Society and other groups. Football was his sport. He was honored to be selected to play in the East-West Shrine Game in 1958.
He attended Oregon Institute of Technology, where he met the love of his life, Annie. On Sept. 20, 1959 they were married in the Ione Community Church.
Len was a third-generation meat cutter in Heppner, starting at the family store, Court Street Market. The store sold and he began Court Street Processing and later built Len’s Processing at their place on Hanna Arbuckle Road. Later, his son Pat and wife Darla took over and he went on to cutting meat at the Red Apple in Heppner.
In 2007, Len and Annie moved to the Midwest to be with family, where he continued to cut meat part time in retirement. Len loved football, even spending his and Annie’s 50th anniversary at Lambeau Field.
Len returned to Oregon in 2013, living in Tygh Valley until he and Annie moved to Hermiston in 2019.
Len loved hunting, fishing and cutting wood while spending time in his favorite spots in the Blue Mountains. His family was so important to him. He enjoyed watching football and rodeos. Len was also a former member of Valby Lutheran Church and a lifetime member of the masonic lodge, where he was a grand master mason.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Annie; sons, Pat (Darla) and Ted (Pauline); grandchildren, Leann, Paige and Brandon; great-grandchildren, Olivia, Isaac, Penelope and Waverly; along with several nieces and nephews.
Len was preceded in death by his oldest son, Ron and parents, Leonard and Mary Schwarz.
A funeral service will be held at Valby Lutheran Church, Ione on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025 at 11 a.m., followed by a graveside service at 12 p.m. at Valby Lutheran Cemetery.
A reception will follow the graveside service at 12:30 p.m. at the church.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Shriners Hospital, Portland due to the impact it made on him during his visit while on the Shrine team.
Please leave your condolence messages for the family online with Sweeney Payton Mortuary.
Sweeney Payton Mortuary has been entrusted with the arrangements.
