Hazel May Schartz Fackler passed away at her home in Leavenworth, Kansas, with her sons by her side, on July 8th, 2026, at the age of 81.

Hazel May was born on September 3rd, 1944 to Julius and Hazel Schartz in Larned, Kansas. After the death of her father when she was five years old, the family relocated to Wichita, Kansas, where she was raised by her mother alongside her four older siblings, Jenell, Peter, Dennis, and Weston.

She married Dennis Fackler in 1966. The couple was stationed in Germany for 2 years, and were able to travel extensively throughout the continent. It was a time she remembered fondly all throughout her life. Upon returning to the states and settling in Kansas City, Missouri in the 1970s, she and her husband started an extremely successful Amway business that they continued to grow through the 1990s. After moving to Leavenworth in 1979, she was able to pursue her passion for collecting antiques and family heirlooms while living in and maintaining a beautiful Victorian era home.

During the 1980s and 1990s she was a respected and multi-award winning Weight Watchers leader, satisfying her passion for helping people. Her passion for people and antiques continued into the 2000s with her work at the Carroll Mansion in Leavenworth, Kansas. She was a pioneering archivist of the Everhard Collection—a project with which she was closely involved for 20 years. Her work for the Carroll Mansion also included running the gift shop, giving presentations and lecturers to the public, and organizing annual fundraising efforts including bread sales, 5K runs, and calendar sales.

Hazel May enjoyed gardening, long walks in nature, learning about history, and spending time with her family, especially her sons John and Julius, and her dog Sophie.

She is preceded in death by her father, mother, and siblings Jenell, Peter, and Dennis.

She is survived by her sons John and Julius Fackler, her brother Weston Schartz, and her nieces and nephews Charles Martin, Jenevereth Martin Myers, Weston Schartz, Jr., Derek Schartz, Julie MacKenzie, and Theresa Dodson.

Hazel May Schartz Fackler’s Celebration of Life will be held Friday, July 24th from 2-8 at the Riverfront Community Center, 123 S. Esplanade, in downtown Leavenworth, Kansas.

Everyone is welcome.