Jerriane Helene Schmidt

Born to be a humorist, Jerrianne’s earth journey ended on January 5, 2018 and her heavenly journey has begun. She attended Horace Mann Elementary and Harding High Schools, and was awarded a drama scholarship to Oklahoma University. She moved to New York and continued her passion for theater arts, attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, New School of Social Research and Hunter College, bumping into Barbara Streisand, Robert Redford, Carol Burnett, among many other theater students. “Most of us were working two or three jobs, sharing apartments, exploring new techniques and devouring the New York energy and all it offered. It was a heady time, a struggle for the stage and applause, a gathering of shared dreams and a victorious accomplishment for those who made it to the top. What glorious luck to have been in such stellar company. The entire experience was a hoot! I would not have missed it for anything! The dumbest thing I ever did was turn down an opportunity to be a Saturday Night Live cast member.” Her career path turned to the philanthropic arena. As Director of Women’s Division Special Event for United Cerebral Palsy New York City, she worked with numerous volunteers and co-produced a myriad of fundraising events, the annual national Cerebral Palsy telethon, season lunch/fashion shows, dinner and ballroom galas at the Waldorf Astoria, and was instrumental in establishing the UCP Thrift Shop in Manhattan, employing those with cerebral palsy, with proceeds benefitting UCP research programs. During this time, she married a New Yorker, summered in the Hamptons, moved to Miami, Florida and had two children, Julie and Steve, who “gave me the happiest, proudest, deepest love moments of my life.” She continued work in community theater, was a member of the U.S. Ladies Tennis Association, and traveled throughout the southwest region to play in sectional tournaments. Returning to Oklahoma, she became Director of Special Events for the Oklahoma Lung Association, then established Posterart, her art gallery which specialized in vintage European art exhibition posters, and mounted exhibitions for renowned photographers’ black and white posters. A new move took her and the children to southern California, where she worked at acclaimed San Diego Opera in Public Relations/Marketing, Editorial Assistant, Media and Member Representative; Production Assistant for Haskel Wexler, film director of “Who‘s Afraid of Virginia Wolfe,” and who directed the Opera’s repertoire promotional films. She appeared in several television commercials, was Production Assistant for “Poems of Wonder and Magic” a PBS Ilan Lael Emmy Award winning children’s film, Production Assistant for “The Wrath of Grapes,” a documentary film nominated for an Academy Award, and attended the ceremony in Los Angeles. During this time she restarted her acting lessons at the famed Old Globe Theater, landing a lead role in Neil Simon’s “The Goodbye Girl.” She embarked on something new by accepting a position with International Resort Services as Public Relations Representative for five-star resorts in Cozumel, Acapulco, Continental and Alaska Airlines. She was lead writer and editor for the internationally distributed resort magazines and newsletters. Her return to California sparked a technology interest and study in telecommunications, which led to a long term position as Director of Telecommunications for La Jolla Management Group, responsible for communications and voice over functions for 3000 diversified companies, including Merrill Lynch and McDonald’s. She was a strong advocate for the homeless having served as a board member for the Alpha Project in San Diego, a supporter of forest preservation and promoted membership to the National Arbor Day Society and organized local benefit events for impoverished children’s needs. Jerrianne returned to Oklahoma City in 1997 to spend four years caring for her beloved mother. She truly enjoyed being united with her dear friends, and enjoyed making new ones. Wherever she was, Jerrianne filled people with humor, love, hope and respect. Whatever she did, the Lord was her companion and she consistently offered daily prayers for those she loved, those she did not know and those who needed prayer. For many long years, her small “Daily Word” booklet was always near: in her pocket, purse or bedside tables, and always in her heart. “To my beautiful and invaluable friends, thank you for sharing your life, love and laughter with me. To my dear cousins: Ronnie, Susie, Sandy, Pat, Donald and Nancy, who were always there for more laughter and love, I was so blessed to be a part of your family.” Born in Oklahoma City on December 3, 1939 she is preceded in death by her loving parents, Isabelle (Betty) and Gerald (Jerry) Vernon. She is survived by “my greatest accomplishments and most precious loves of my life, wherever I was then and am now,” her loving, devoted and cherished children: daughter Julie Schmidt Collier of Mission Viejo, CA and son Steve Schmidt of Carrollton, TX. She adored her great grandsons, Jack and Tate Collier, who gave her great joy and laughter and dearly loved her son-in-law, Michael Collier, all of Mission Viejo, CA. “Thank God for you, the never-ending joys of my life, my dearest Julie and Steve. I was beautifully blessed and eternally proud to be your mother. Your love and respect made my life so much brighter and joyful. Look for me. I will always be with you, listening for laughter.” Her ashes will be interred in a cookie jar, on which ‘a Jerrianne legacy’ is written: “Love Life, Love Your Children, Love God… and Laugh! It Does a Body Good! Born December 3, 1939, Died January 5, 2018.” “Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.” (G. B. Shaw) A Memorial Celebration in Oklahoma City will be held at a later date.