Mrs. Jessie Lou Thorpe Schmidt

She was preceded in death by her parents Jesse Laub Thorpe and Marion Bidwell Thorpe and older sister Elizabeth Anne (Thorpe) Hebert all of Redding.

Jessie leaves her beloved husband, Roy L. Schmidt, of 63 years, her children Monte (Margaret) Schmidt, Janet (Larry) Jordan, Ralph (Estella) Schmidt, six grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and some very special friends. Special thanks to those that helped Jessie in home care and eventually Lavender Hills assisted living for taking such good care of her when she needed them the most.

Jessie loved the outdoors, influenced by her father's Forest Service tenure as a road building and mechanic. Fishing, hunting bear and deer was something she grew up with. Her mother was an elementary school teacher and principal at Buckeye School on Dean Drive off Buckeye Road (Lake Blvd.); Jessie would substitute teach when her mother was out ill.

Without the educational opportunities her mother had (her father lost his right arm in a non-compensated industrial accident) Jessie needed to find work. She began working in the banking field and eventually the medical field where she became quite proficient and interested in the field. Jessie worked as front office, back office medical assistant and medical manager and medical consultant; setting up physician practices, acquiring their equipment, office space and hiring their staff. This latter allowed her the freedom to focus on her family. Many physicians expressed wishes for her to remain and become their medical managers. She taught medical assisting as Shasta College was President of the local Medical Assistant's Chapter in 1968.

She was later approached by a plastic surgeon upon referral by other local physicians to establish and set up his practice in Redding. He urged Jessie to work full time for him and manage his practice, she did agree and stayed with him for 25 years until her retirement.

Jessie loved people and would sit and talk to them with empathy, listen to their stories, and instinctively know just what to say to comfort someone in need. She will certainly be missed by family and friends.

A visitation will be a McDonald's Chapel, 1275 Continental Street, Redding, CA 96001 from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Friday, September 26, 2014. Her funeral service will be on Monday, September 29, 2014 at 1:00 PM. Reception at McDonald's to follow. Private burial will be at Northern California Veterans Cemetery, 11800 Gas Point Road, Igo, CA 96047 at 11:00 AM.

Arrangements under the direction of McDonald's Chapel, Redding, CA.