Stacey Schmeiser Walker

Stacey Schmeiser Walker

Stacey Schmeiser Walker, age 43, died peacefully on Saturday, July 6, 2013 in Bellevue, Washington. This culminated a valiant and courageous battle with cancer that lasted nearly five years since her initial diagnosis. She was a bright and shining star in the lives of so many that had the opportunity to know her.

From her birth in St. Paul, Minnesota, on September 6, 1969 to her unfairly young demise in death, Stacey touched so many hearts and lives with her ever-present positive attitude and unmistakable smile.

Before her second birthday, Stacey, the youngest of six, made the move to Arizona with her family. She grew up in the Tempe and Scottsdale school systems and graduated from Saguaro High School in 1987. She then attended her beloved University of Arizona and became a proud member of Kappa Kappa Gamma women's sorority. The friendships that Stacey made from her formative years in elementary school all the way through her college and post-graduate years were absolutely solid in their lasting impact in her life. She worked hard to tend to these critical relationships and was the glue that kept many friends talking together to this day.

Upon graduating from the U of A in 1991, Stacey took a job with StanChart Mortgage where she trained for and became a loan officer. With her personality and genuine charm, she prospered in her role. After two years in the mortgage industry, Stacey decided to leave the industry and seek a post-graduate degree. After some crafty negotiation, she was admitted to Thunderbird, the American Graduate School of International Management and began her coursework to attain a Master in International Management. On the first day of graduate school, she met a man who would ultimately become her husband, Rick.

After graduating in 1994, Stacey accepted Rick's proposal and the two married on a sunny day in the late fall, November 18, 1995. Ever adventurous, Stacey set out with Rick to spend the next four years in Russia. With little or no local language ability, Stacey managed to secure jobs that were almost impossible for Ivy-leaguers to land - at the World Bank and later, in Moscow, at AIG Capital Partners, a private equity fund focused on investment in Russia and the former Soviet states.

By the time the couple moved back to the states in late 1999, talk of children began to emerge. The couple moved to Seattle, WA where again Stacey was to find interesting work at Ackerley Group's internet and media division.

On January 28, 2002, Stacey gave birth to the first of the couple's three children. Matthew Frederick was a joy in Stacey's life and allowed her to pursue the job she loved most - that of becoming a stay-at-home mom.

Her dream of providing a sibling for Matt came in the form of twins, William Gordon and Sophia Ann joined the family on November 14, 2005.

One of Stacey's great wishes was her desire to re-enter the workforce to support and benefit her family business. She did this from early 2006 until early 2012. This was without question, the job she loved most in her career.

Stacey had an unquenchable love of family and of life itself. She wanted nothing more than to let her children know that she fought with every fiber of her being to be with them every minute she could muster. This legacy will live on in her children.

Stacey is survived by her husband, Rick; her three children: Matt, Will and Sophie; her parents, Gordon and Shirley Schmeiser of Scottsdale, AZ; her five siblings: Barb (Jay Eaton) of Tempe, AZ; Tom Good (Kathy) of Cave Creek, AZ; Rhonda (Bill Sherin) of Tempe, AZ; Jerry Good (Brenda) of Cave Creek, AZ; Holly (Jim Harter) of Scottsdale, AZ; as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Services will be held at Bellevue Presbyterian Church, 1717 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, WA, on Wednesday, July 17, 2013 at 1:00. Immediately following the services, a celebration of life reception will be held at Overlake Golf and Country Club, 8000 NE 16th Street, Medina, WA until 5:00 p.m.

Stacey requests that, in lieu of flowers, all donations should be made to the Kaplan Cancer Research Fund, c/o Swedish Foundation, Swedish Medical Center, 747 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98104.