She earned her undergraduate degree at Missouri Valley College, and her master’s degree at the University of Central Missouri in Special Education. She worked for Olathe School District for 40 years as a Career Transition teacher, working with at-risk and special needs youth, helping them to serve as volunteers or be employed.
She was a breast cancer survivor (2016), but an unrelated cancer surfaced in 2019, which caused her death.
She was preceded in death by her son Justin Stratton (2004), and her parents Lorraine and Ralph Smith. She is survived by her husband Steve Schmidt, Lili Besch-Kramer (“my best friend, and the biggest joy of my life”), Fara Rose (“with whom I had the good fortune of caring for my mother, and who became my friend and I will always feel indebted to her”), her cousin Marcia Kells (“who cared for me; I felt like we were sisters”), and many other Dear Friends (“who helped me spiritually, medically, and in their friendship”). In
lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to a charity of your choice.
A small private graveside committal service will be held at Mount Moriah Cemetery. This will be Livestreamed on Facebook on Wednesday, April 29th at 11:00am: www.fb.com/MtMoriahNewcomer
