Elizabeth Schilling Obituary

Elizabeth was a grand woman with a deep, loving passion for community. Elizabeth passed away on June 25, 2025 after a brief illness. Born in Palatine, Illinois, arrived in Live Oak in the early sixties where she attended Soquel High, Blackburn College, Cabrillo College, UCSC and Northwestern University, majoring in Environmental Planning and Journalism.

Elizabeth met Ken Thomas at UCSC (College 8), and soon after married. Together they raised two daughters, Lillian and Josette.

Bound by love of community, she founded the Live Oak Family Resource Center and served as the Director from its origin in 2000 until 2012.

Earlier careers include the first carpool coordinator for Santa Cruz County, and journalist for the Baltimore Sun, the Associated Press and the Register-Pajaronian. Her most significant news story was the Watsonville Frozen Food labor strike in the mid 1980's. During "retirement" she worked as a substitute teacher and ELPAC tester for PVUSD, LOSD and SCCS. Most recently she was an office coordinator for Fall Creek Landscapes and the events coordinator for San Lorenzo Park Senior Apartments. But her all time favorite job was recess yard duty at Live Oak School where she could see her daughters and give stickers to children.

Her volunteer work and community devotion were immense. Some organizations include the Pajaro Valley Agricultural Project, Peace United Church of Christ, Communities Organized for Relational Action in Power (COPA), Live Oak Grange, The Live Oak History Project, Migrant Head Start, Chicago Torture Justice Memorial, the Resource Center for Non-Violence, SURJ, and Indivisible Santa Cruz.

Elizabeth devoted herself intensely to social justice, local and national campaigns and the environment. She touched many lives and had a galaxy of friends. In COPA she learned and practiced relational power: finding and developing leaders and meeting with people in power to effect change.

In her spare time, she loved to create art, garden, host neighborhood parties, watch over others, read with her book clubs (Magpies and Black Author Books), and watch the SF Giants while sipping a martini and snuggling with her two dachshunds.

Preceding her in death were her mother, Erica Schilling; father, Al Schilling; sister, Laura Schilling; and nephew, Ben Schilling.

Elizabeth is survived by her daughters, Lillian Thomas and Josette Thomas; her husband, Ken Thomas, of 39 years; her sister, Valerie Schilling; her nephews and nieces, Cori, Matt Dan, Taj and Katrina; and her great nieces and nephews, Payton, Skylar, Will, Willow, Emmet and Maddie.

Thank you, Elizabeth, for a beautiful life and your gift of service in our community and the world. We will always love and miss you so very much. Amor eterno e inolvidable. Peace be with you.

A celebration of her life will be held Saturday, August 23, 2025 at 11AM at Peace United Church of Christ. Donations in her honor can be made to Peace United Church of Christ, 900 High Street, Santa Cruz.