Melita Gail Schmidt

Melita Gail Schmidt (nee Crissman) was born on March 5th, 1938 to Sam and Melba Crissman, at home in Larned, KS. From first grade until eighth, she attended school in a simple one-room school building. From 9th to 12th grade, she attended high school in the town of St. John in Central Kansas. After graduating from high school, she chose a career of nursing and attended nurse’s training at Grace Hospital in Hutchinson, Kansas. Following her graduation from nurse’s training, she made the decision to move to a small town in western Kansas and work for a doctor that she already knew, moving to Bird City, Kansas. While there, she lived in a room with a widow, who also was landlord to two teachers that lived in the basement. One of those teachers later on that year asked her to marry her and shortly thereafter became her husband. His name was Harvey Harold Schmidt. Melita and “Hal” lived in Kansas for another three years until 1963 when Hal made the decision that he wanted to try to go teach in a bigger school District. He interviewed with two different school districts. The first was in Anaheim, California, and the second was in Portland, OR. He was accepted by both of them, but he chose Portland. In August of that year, they moved almost 1500 miles towing their possessions in a small trailer. Albertice, a friend from Bird City, Kansas who was already living in the area, found an apartment for them in the Capital Hill area of Portland. It was a bedroom space in a lady’s basement for a rent of $65 per month. In 1964 David Wayne Schmidt was born and the three of them lived in that small space. Shortly after they moved out of Nevada Ct, they decided to buy a house in Tigard in 1966. While living in the house on Hillview Ct., their son Darin Harold Schmidt was born in 1972. In total, they lived there for twelve years before building on land that they had purchased a little earlier outside Sherwood on which they built a house in 1978. Melita was advised to quit nursing in the early 1970’s because of what doctors assured her was a rapidly advancing and guaranteed blindness due to retinitis pigmentosa. However, that blindness didn’t advance as quickly as projected and had many years of vision that was impaired, but still manageable. Eventually the blindness DID catch up to her, but not for many more years. Melita described the second-portion of her life after she quit working in healthcare like this: “...doing basic household chores. I also learned to crochet, embroidery work, canned vegetables from the garden, and sang in choir for 40 some years with Christ the King Lutheran church. Other community involvements included the Lake Oswego Lions Club, which they found about via a teacher at that same school, and the Oregon Fuschia Society. Life got busy with the boys growing up and moving away. A special interest was the “mustard seed farm”, an organic farm CO-OP in Newberg, Oregon, formerly the location of the Hospital along Hwy 99. The farmer, Dave Brown, was instrumental in letting I and my husband know about Friendsview, where they lived for about 21 years. Lots of good memories and friends.” In the most recent years of her life, she was an avid listener of audiobooks through the program that provides free materials for the blind and visually impaired. Her favorite authors included Tracie Peterson, Judith Pella, and Jan Karon. In addition to her love of books, she was a dedicated sports fan, keeping up with the Oregon Ducks, the Blazers, and the local George Fox Bruins- the campus is 1 block from the retirement community. Some staff at Friendsview were football players on the Bruins team. When it came to food, she always enjoyed a good KFC coleslaw, Popeye’s fried chicken, or honey walnut shrimp from Panda Express. Her children remain moved and humbled by her courage and determination, even when facing the challenges of blindness. With enough patience, her hands could always find the missing object. Melita passed away on Sunday January 11, 2026. Surviving family include, sons David Wayne Schmidt of Beaverton, Oregon and Darin Harold Schmidt of Stayton, Oregon, and Sister Lynda McAllister of St John, Kansas and Rodney Crissman of St.John Kansas. Grandchildren are Sarah Helen Schmidt, Sean David Schmidt and Hannah Christine Grace Schmidt (preceded in death). She was loved and will be missed by all. A memorial service will be held by the family at Joyful Servant Saturday March 7th, 11:00 AM. Melita’s remains have been retained by Friends Community Cemetery of Newberg, Oregon. In lieu of flowers one can donate to Joyful Servant OR for the Employee Appreciation fund at Friendsview care of the Business Office. Condolences may be sent to David Schmidt 1520 SW 199th Ct, Beaverton, Oregon 97003 and Darin Schmidt 798 Rabbit Run St, Stayton Oregon 97383

Melita Gail Schmidt

March 5, 1938 - January 11, 2026