Cynthia Lou was born August 23, 1941 to Fred and Ilene Jefferson in Parsons, Kansas. She departed on September 29, 2022, in Encinitas, CA with her loved ones by her side. Cyndie is survived by her husband, Les Schlais, sister, Sharon Mead, 7 children, 10 grandchildren, and Emily (the kitty cat).
Cyndie and Les were love bugs! Spending time together was always the highlight of their day, whether the backdrop be Seoul, Korea or the back porch of their Encinitas home. Cyndie was a go getter that loved to golf, jump off waterfalls, fish, and travel. Some of her travels included England, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Mexico, Hawaii, and Bora Bora, but Alaska was her favorite of all. One of their fondest memories was when they went fishing and she caught four 10-foot swordfishes off the coast of Costa Rica. Aside from Cyndie’s adventurous nature, nothing compared to spending time with her precious grandkids, whom she adored.
Cyndie’s amazing personality attracted a wide circle of friends originating from golfing, the beach, Syncis Insurance, Physical Therapy, Tejon Ranch, the neighborhood, back home in Parsons, Kansas, and her caregivers who quickly transcended friendship to be a part of our family. Many of these friends are in attendance today to help us celebrate Cyndie’s Life. Cyndie was an energetic, compassionate, humorous, and loving mother, daughter, wife, and friend; which allows us to say with certainty that she will be missed by all that knew and loved her. We all may take comfort that she is now at peace with her family and her heavenly Father, may she rest in peace.
A TRIBUTE TO MY WIFE
These are a few standout moments that came to mind while I was with Cyndie during her last few weeks that I wish to share.
My first and second sighting of Cyndie was at Tejon Ranch. Her, as an Executive Secretary and me, as a Business Salesman. When I met her, I thought she was the most beautiful angel I had ever laid eyes upon. Her polite, classy, bubbly demeanor was apparent after talking only 15 minutes. She remained on my mind the entire car ride home. Fast forward 3 years later, Cyndie appeared in our company seeking to pursue an insurance career. But all I could think about was how beautiful she was. Walking tall and proud, she gracefully walked down the aisle at the meeting to find a seat. From that moment I prayed we would find a way to be together. By God’s designed plan it happened. Our journey then began and continued until God took her to His Kingdom and every moment was truly the best! We got married in an intimate ceremony alone in our backyard with our minister, four legged pets, and 2 neighborhood friends. It was our perfect version of “eloping”. A few months later we celebrated with a large formal wedding for family and friends to help us celebrate. Renewing our vows 3 more times in our new home’s backyard. Not that we needed to, but just because we enjoyed the idea of pledging our love. We were truly in love! We were committed to loving each other for better or worse, in sickness and in health.
Cyndie was a Godly Christian woman. She regularly studied the Bible and read her daily devotionals in the Daily Bread. She loved the Lord and strived to always read, learn, and grow more.
Cyndie loved to shop and pamper herself with weekly hair and nail appointments. She always wanted to look like a movie star from head to toe and she achieved her goal. Her favorite “go to” stores were My 3 Sisters, Chico’s, Lulu Lemon, and Home Depot for home décor. She loved to shop home décor and decorate for the holidays; especially for her favorite holiday, Christmas. The coming Christmas holidays will not be the same.
Cyndie has always loved the outdoors. Night or day, summer or winter, you would find her out in the flower beds. Even though we had a gardener, she always went outside to help or to show him how to properly prune the flowers. Aside from her giving him direction, he still loved her and enjoyed her help because she was so dog gone cute. Needless to say our house was always full of flowers. I will miss seeing all her beautifully arranged bouquets all over the house.
If you ever wanted to know what was happening locally or worldwide, Cyndie knew it. She was always up to date on her sports (GO BRONCOS). She also never missed the Lakers games or the old westerns on TV. She would smile and cheer them on as if she was there. We would watch everything together, both the Lakers and westerns. She was amazing! I will miss our evenings together.
Her favorite saying:
• I’m not perfect, neither am I
• I don’t want to, neither do I
• My love, my love bug
• Her touch removed stresses
• Her kisses are electric
• Her beauty, inside and out, warmed me
I am so proud of my wife! As Cyndie would point out, she may not be a movie star, rocket scientist, doctor, or lawyer, but she was a self-made millionaire and she was a good, kind, loving, honest, caring person who loved all she encountered. She was my best friend, counselor, accountability partner, comforter, and loving wife. I will miss her very much!
God gave us an obstacle, but that obstacle was a miracle in disguise: Five years of deeply loving and growing with her. A gift that I will never ever forget. Through these obstacles God helped me to understand how much more love and sacrifice she possessed on my behalf and showed me daily how witty, loving, kind and caring of a person my wife was. She encountered an immeasurable amount of pain but endured, because she wanted to remain with her family. All she wanted was to drink coffee and hug, but the Lord God Almighty gave her so much more; we went to concerts, fancy dinners, made new friends, took convertible rides to the beach to listen to the ocean, attended her 3 youngest daughters’ weddings, and got to meet the new LOVE BUG Paisley June just before her passing.
MEMORIES FROM THE KIDS
TATE
When I was about 10 years old, Cyndie got me all dressed up and took me out to dinner. I felt like “hot stuff”, she pointed out some cute girls across the restaurant. Finally getting the courage to smile at them coming back from the bathroom… she never let me live it down that I had 5-10 feet of toilet paper floating behind me. It was the laugh of the year.
RIKKILYNN
My favorite time was waking up early in the mornings getting to enjoy coffee outside with her, and soaking up the one on one alone time. Cyndie always knew how important it was to appreciate the little things we take for granted every day.
BRITTANY
One time when Dad and Cyndie were out visiting us in Missouri. Dad constantly called Cyndie his “honey”. My oldest son Riley coined her the nickname “Grandma Honey” that now lives on through all of the grandchildren today. She was always so sweet like honey!
ZACHARY
Wayyyy back in the day when she had access to Tejon Ranch, she took me out fishing on a private pond in this little dingy and kicked my butt at fishing. Then bragged about it and rubbed it in my face for months. It was adorable.
KOURTNEY
Every Christmas she was more excited than I was and would wake me up super early so I could have my Christmas hot chocolate and cinnamon roll. I then got to open my presents that “Mrs. Clause” got me.
CHELSEA
Every time Cyndie would see a baby puppy or kitten, her face would completely light up. Her soft spot for animals reflected in her compassion for her family and everyone.
JENEA
My favorite memory/ memories were all the times in the pools. She would wear her hair in two high up pigtails and tap on the water so majestically. She was never afraid to play “Marco Polo” with me or kick my butt in Rummy.
We will all miss, Cyndie! I WAS BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE, an understatement. But now she is at peace. Walking the streets of gold with a fully abled body. Walking freely through the field of flowers, waves crashing on the beach, holding hands with her Mom and Dad, and cuddling with all of our heavenly furry friends, Cody, Snoops, Fluffy Kitty and Casanova.
SHE IS FINALLY HOME. MAY YOU REST IN PEACE. I WILL ALWAYS MISS YOU AND ALWAYS LOVE YOU. SOON MY LOVE WE WILL BE TOGETHER AGAIN! ALWAYS MY LOVE!
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.montecitomemorialparkandmortuary.com for the Schlais family.
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