Anne Schmidt

Anne Schmidt died peacefully in her sleep on November 5, 2008 at her home in the Village of the Hills, outside of Austin, Texas. Her husband Art and sons Dick and Dave were at her side. She was born Anabel Young on June 19, 1934 at the home of her parents, Melba and Dick Young, in Lawrenceville, Illinois. After high school in Lawrenceville, she attended Gulf Park College in Gulfport Mississippi and the University of Minnesota. After her junior year she visited her cousin Rae (now Rae Tooley of Carson City, NV) in California and ended up working at Aerojet, the developer of the Polaris missile. The romance of running a slide rule as an engineer's assistant at the rocket test site was more fun than college so she stayed in California. Not to be outdone, her high school sweetheart, Art Schmidt, left the University of Illinois and followed her to Sacramento where they were married May 26, 1956. Thirty days later, Art was drafted and they spent two years in Olympia Washington where she worked as a librarian at the state capitol. Anne's children became the focus of her life after Art's return to the University of Illinois in Champaign, where Dick and Doug were born. After moves with Schlumberger to Mt. Carmel, Illinois, Ridgefield, Connecticut and Houston, Dave was born in Midland Texas. The boys were sports oriented, and "Mom" always said, "I'll take you to practice after you finish your homework. " She had a good plan as they all graduated from the University of Texas School of Engineering. Her family is the monument to her life. She is survived by son Dick, his wife Amanda, and their daughters, Samantha, Sophie, and Lucy, son Doug, his wife, Rhonda, and their sons Dillon, Jay, and Brett, son Dave, his wife, Rene, and their sons, Caden, William, and Nathan; and Art, her husband of 52 ½ years. Also surviving are her brother, Joe Young of Bridgeport, Illinois, his wife, Mary Lynn, and her sister in law, Donna Lee Stuart of Pomona, California and many cousins, nieces and nephews. She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority, P.E.O. and The Daughters of the American Revolution. "Annie" never met a stranger. Anne and Art's spare time hobby was travelling to Spring Training Baseball and to model railroad conventions all across the country where many friendships were made. After being on oxygen for 3 ½ years, her battle against pulmonary fibrosis has finally ended. Not once did she ever lose her sense of humor or display self pity. Rather, she remarked again and again what a wonderful life she had led, and asked her family to "pray me into Heaven". Loving wife, devoted Mom, true friend, Grandma Honey" to her grandchildren, you are in our prayers forever. A visitation will be held at Weed Corley-Fish funeral home from 7:00 to 9:00 Friday evening, 3125 N Lamar, 452-8811. Funeral services are Saturday at 11:00 at Tarrytown United Methodist Church, 2601 Exposition Blvd. If desired, memorial contributions can be made to Anne's favorite charity at calfarley.org.