Lee Roy James Schmitz

Lee Roy James Schmitz, born on October 5, 1929, in Lindsay, Texas, passed away peacefully at the age of 96. He was the youngest of eight children born to John William and Mary Catherine (Bezner) Schmitz.

Lee Roy graduated from Subiaco Academy in Arkansas in 1947. After high school, he began working in building construction with his father in Austin, Texas. In 1950, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and proudly served during the Korean War as a radio operator aboard the B-36 Peacemaker.

Following his military discharge in 1955, Lee Roy worked for National Geophysical and attended Cooke County Junior College. He later moved to Dallas and was employed by Collins Radio Company as a transformer tester.

In 1960, he married Margaret Ann Parkerson. The couple moved to Bossier City, Louisiana, where Lee Roy began his career with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Together, they raised six children. In 1968, the family returned to Dallas, and Lee Roy continued his work with the FAA until his retirement in 1980.

A pivotal moment in Lee Roy’s life came on January 17, 1978, when he chose to begin living a sober life. This path led him to become a certified alcohol and drug counselor—a vocation through which he found renewed purpose. He devoted himself to helping others in recovery through his work at Twin Lakes Hospital in Denton and Arbor Creek Hospital in Sherman, retiring again in 1991.

In 1985, he built a home in Valley View, Texas, on land he had purchased years earlier. He married Nancy Spires in 1991 and shared many meaningful years with her and her family before their divorce in 2005.

Lee Roy loved the outdoors—especially hunting, fishing, and carpentry—and enjoyed passing knowledge of these hobbies on to his children and grandchildren. He was also well-known for his dancing skills and could often be found “cutting a rug” at senior centers around town.

Lee Roy is survived by his children: Thomas Lee Schmitz (Debbie), Kevin Jerome Schmitz (Beth), Rosemary Schmitz Martinez (Oscar), Jeanne Marie Schmitz, John William Schmitz, and Marianne Schmitz Roland; by his beloved grandchildren: Sarah Tessmar, Rachael Walker, Diana Smith, Anna Schmitz, William Schmitz, Maggie Schmitz, Parker Martinez, Jared Martinez, Marisa Martinez, Anna Roland, Kenneth Roland, and Audrey Roland; and by his great-grandchildren: Ashlynn, Evah, Luke, Dylan, Stella, and Emoree. He is also survived by his dear sister, Marcy Wilde.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers Leonard, Freddie, and Johnny; and his sisters Sally Theimer, Gertie Horn, and Rosalie Cox.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to a local addiction recovery center or veteran’s organization in Lee Roy’s honor.

Services are scheduled for Monday, October 20, 2025 at Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Home, Gainesville. The family will begin receiving friends at 9:00 a.m. and a funeral service will begin at 10:00 a.m. A committal service will follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery, Lindsay.