Catherine Louise O'Connor Schmidt

Catherine Louise O'Connor Schmidt, age 87, of Hartford, Kansas, passed away February 7, 2026. Catherine was born, March 27, 1938, at SE rural Hartford, the daughter of Charley "Bud" Finace O'Connor and Elizabeth Irene Wheeler O'Connor. She grew up on the farm where she was born. She graduated from Sunny Dale #17 Rural School in Coffey County, and she attended 3 years at Strawn High School until it closed in 1954. She attended her senior year at Lebo High School, and graduated as Salutatorian of the class. Following graduation, Catherine worked at the Coffey County Clerks office in Burlington. On June 8, 1957, she was married to Richard Joseph Schmidt at St. Mary Catholic Church in Hartford. Together they raised 8 children on a farm SW of Hartford. Until 1973, they had a dairy farm, and later raised Holstein calves. Catherine was a homemaker and Elmendaro Township Library Director from 1999-2015. She enjoyed reading, writing, radio, movies/TV, dancing, and music. She was a member of St. Mary Church in Hartford since 1957, and she was the church organist since 1987. Catherine was a member of the Hartford Colonial Dames Club in the early years, and Eagle Creek Unit and St. Mary Altar Society since 1957 . Richard and Catherine received the Kansas State Bankers Award for soil conservation in 1978, were named Hartford Citizens of the Year, and later Hartford Family of the Year. In 2011, they were Hartford Harvest Day Parade Marshalls.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard, in 2012, her parents, sister Pauline Anita O'Connor Arb Baxter, grandchildren Tanner and Adam Fessler, step-fathers Wyatt Adkins and Kenneth "Skinny" Powell, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Melvin Arb, Richard Baxter, Alvina Schmidt Boldt Meyer, Fred Boldt, Walt Meyer, Leon, Lester & Beth, Warren Anthony, and Virgil Schmidt, Daniel Hellen, and Preston Pierce. Nephews Bradley Boldt and James Baxter, and cousin Barbara Gilkison. Dear friends Paula Baxter, Joan & Louise Atherly, Marjory Atherly Holmer, Beverly & Duane Laws, Mary Lea & Don Williamson, Kenneth Thomas, Bill Hamman, Richard Wilson, and Gerald Laws, as well as special friends Dan Fruit and Seraphin "Sonny" Wendling.

Catherine is survived by her sons Warren (Linda) Schmidt, Hartford, Stuart (Mary) Schmidt, Brewster, her daughters Vivian (Richard) Fessler Prose, Emporia, Gayla (Randall) Proehl, Emporia, Darice (Brian) Todd, Kirksville, MO, Loraine (Brian) Zweimiller, Hartford, Marcia (Doug) Hermesch, Belvue, Karen (Jeff) Gillespie, Colony, and daughter-in-law Sharon Schmidt, Gas. Grandchildren Nathan (Laura), Jason (Emily), Michael (Laura), Justin (Emily), and Weston Schmidt, Jared (Susan), Lance, and Dylan (Janine) Fessler, Clifton (Kelsie) and Travis (Ashley) Proehl, Trent (Megan) Todd, and Chelsie (Joseph) Todd Deneault, Raysha (Quintin) Zweimiller Ratzlaff, Amanda (Nick) Zweimiller Bess, and Brianna (Keenan) Zweimiller Kirby, Kohl (Kasey) and Clinton Prose, Benjamin, Samual, Rayya, Michael, and Ashlynn Hermesch, Hailey, Tyler, and Braden Gillespie, and 32 Great Grandchildren. Sisters-in-law Diana Hellen Baldassaro & Michael, Topeka, and Lois & JamesTheilman, Parker, CO, and Brothers-in-law Maurice Schmidt, Emporia, and Gregory & Julie Schmidt, Wichita, step-siblings Rhoda, Rhonda, and Teddy Powell, nephew David (Debra) Arb, Emporia, and many more nieces and nephews. Dear Friends Donald Atherly, Ruth Hamman, Carole Wilson, Shirley Thomas, Bev Laws, Betty Tucker, Linda Jirak, Wade Anderson, Tim & Karina, Isabelle & Catherine Menard, Tom & Naomi Peterson and family, Fred & Mel Schwinghamer, John & Evelyne O'Connor, Bob & Patti Buck, Louis & Doris Metz, Dan & Beverly Metz, Father Ratna Swamy Nanam, her Pen Pal of 70 years, Elizabeth Monson, California, and members of Eagle Creek Unit and St. Mary Church. Cousins in the area are Marilyn Knight, Alberta Andrick, and Angela Stottler. She dearly loved her large family, relatives, and friends of all ages.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 A.M. Saturday, February 14, 2026, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Olpe, KS. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery at Olpe.

A Rosary will be recited at 6:00 P.M. Friday, February 13, at St. Joseph Church with visitation following from 6:30 to 8:00 P.M.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary Catholic Church in Hartford, St. Joseph Catholic Church in Olpe, or Elmendaro Township Library at Hartford, and may be sent in care of Jones Funeral Home, PO Box 277, Burlington, KS 66839.