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Catherine Carman "Lukie" Schmitt

Catherine Schmitt Obituary

Catherine "Lukie" Carman Schmitt
April 19, 1922 - July 25, 2013


Lukie was born in Pasadena, California on April 19, 1922. She grew up in Duarte & Monrovia, California where she lived for 60 years, attending Monrovia-Arcadia-Duarte High School (MAD), where she excelled in playing tennis (a sport she enjoyed for many years to come). She attended Pasadena City College & U.C.L.A. before marrying her high school classmate, Kenneth Alan Schmitt on October 16, 1943 in their home church (1st Presbyterian in Monrovia). In 1950, they welcomed their daughter, Katharine Grace into their family.

During her time in Monrovia, she worked for her father's 4-H supply business, which she later took over, busily sewing caps, stars & ribbons that supplied the entire state of California. She was involved in her church as a deacon and wedding committee hostess, planning the weddings with the brides, arranging flowers (a lifelong passion), putting on receptions & taking care of loose ends before starting the brides down the aisle. She did this for 35 years. Lukie was also active in Chapter BI P.E.O. where she served as president more than once, was decorations chairman for both a California State Convention & an International Convention, as well as Convention Chairman for the 1985 California Convention. While in Monrovia, she & her husband became docents of the Anderson House (a Victorian home they helped to decorate & maintain) & participated in the Old House Group, Santa Anita Model A Club & a group that planned reunions for the MAD class of '38.

During her lifetime, she made many friends & kept them, going back to her days in elementary school in Duarte, & hosted yearly Christmas gatherings with couples from MAD high school, with whom she remained close.

When they moved to Portland in 1992 to be closer to their daughter, they joined Bethany Presbyterian Church, & Lukie became active in Bethany Presbyterian Women, Shipmates, & the library, as well as Chapter DP, P.E.O., Century Club, & a weekly painting group. In her quiet way, she drew people to her & made a whole new circle of friends.

Always a lady, in the true sense of the word, Lukie enjoyed dressing well & kept an array of hats she wore over the years, always very stylish. She enjoyed sewing, making tailored clothing from scratch; upholstery, a variety of crafts; golfing with her son-in-law, & going "junking" with her friends, which led to collecting all kinds of things, from hat pin holders to cut glass. She spent time reading most days & loved her cats over the years, as well as being an avid bird watcher. Most memorable to many of her friends were her numerous paintings, which won ribbons at the Washington County fair & became her yearly Christmas cards, saved & treasured by all who received them.

She was preceded in death by Kenneth, her husband of 55 years, and all 3 of her siblings - David, Martha Marie & Mark. She is survived by her daughter, Katharine Holland, & son-in-law, Darryl, & many nieces & nephews. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

A service will be held at Bethany Presbyterian Church on Saturday, August 17 at 2:30 pm, with a reception following. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Portland Audubon Society, Oregon Humane Society or Sacred Flight harpists, who came to play for her while she was on hospice. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid." John 14:27

Published by Pasadena Star-News on Aug. 25, 2013.
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