Sisters killed in snowmobile accident

Women with Metro Detroit ties enjoyed life, friends say after Mackinac snowmobile crash

Mike Martindale / The Detroit News

Mackinac Island -- Two sisters with Metro Detroit ties who died in a snowmobile accident Sunday night had a passion for life and "enjoyed every second," said their longtime friend, South Lyon Mayor Tedd Wallace.

Police said Karen Schwarck, 59, of Trillium Heights on Mackinac Island -- a longtime South Lyon resident -- and Edith Bonno, 57, of Canton Township, died when a snowmobile they were riding on apparently fell off one of the island's rugged bluff roads.

"Those two just lit up a room," said Wallace, who has known both women for more than 40 years. "They were the most jovial people you could ever want to meet. They had fun in everything they did and had the sweetest voices. They just loved life."

Schwarck and her husband, Donald, had retired and moved up to the island a few years ago, where they had built a home, Wallace said. She was a founding director of the South Lyon Senior Center, a travel agent and co-wrote a book two years ago about traveling through England with her friend Kathy Crawford, wife of state Rep. Hugh Crawford.

"It was called 'Two Broads Abroad,' " Wallace recalled. "It was a funny, whimsical look at two women traveling together.."

Donald Schwarck is a former teacher in South Lyon and former city councilman. The Schwarcks have two sons, Matt and Paul.

On Sunday, the sisters had been out shooting photographs, said Donald Schwarck, who reported them missing to police about 10:15 p.m. Sunday when they had not returned.

A search party found them about four hours later at the bottom of a steep hill off West Bluff Drive, according to Mackinac Island Police Cpl. Andy Dziobak. Alcohol was not a factor, police said.

Funeral arrangements were incomplete; a memorial service will be announced this week at Phillips Funeral Home in South Lyon.

Bonno is survived by a son, Josh, and daughter, Jessica.

Both victims are survived by a brother, Eric Rayner; and their parents, Eric and Irene Rayner.

mmartindale@detnews.com (734) 462-2672