Lori Kay Dinsmore

1959 - 2011

Lori Dinsmore passed away in Fortuna on June 8th, 2011 as a result of complications from her four month struggle against cancer. She fought stubbornly but the odds and all the breaks were against her; at the end she accepted her fate and went gracefully and peacefully as she began her final journey with her husband holding her hand. Lori Schoonmaker was born September 21, 1959 in Eureka to Ed and Joyce Schoonmaker. She and her two siblings Corky and Lila were raised solely by her mother who had to work hard to make ends meet for the family; the values Lori learned from her mom shaped her into the hard-working and independent person she was. After graduating from Eureka High in 1977, she held several jobs before going to work for Bank of Loleta. There she remained for a number of years, watching her single friends marry off and becoming reconciled to a fate of being single. That plan changed the day a kindred spirit and future soul-mate walked into the bank, handed her a check and asked if it was any good; the check was payable to Lori for the sum of "One dinner for two Friday night". It turned out the check was as good as gold; Dirk and Lori were married a year later and formed a very strong and successful partnership that lasted the next 22 years without any real arguments. There may have been a few very quiet times in the house when no words were being spoken, but those times were few, short and soon forgotten. Other than a year living in the not-quite paradise of Guam on a not-quite successful business venture, Dirk and Lori spent their married life in Humboldt County and most of it in the house they built together in Hydesville. She loved spending time at the cabin in Dinsmore, and often would spend the best weeks of the summer taking the boys on all-day excursions to the river to fish and swim, instilling in them as well as she could the traditions and values she held most important. Above all else, Lori's sons and husband were sacred to her. Son Nathan was born in 1991 and son Nolan (whom she sometimes lovingly referred to as "Made in Guam") followed in 1994. She was a tireless volunteer at school functions and fundraisers and a lioness of a mom when it came to ensuring that her boys were receiving the best possible education and attention. She was extremely proud of both her sons for their accomplishments and the fine young men they are becoming. Her biggest regret at the end was that she would not be there to see them continue on in life, however she made it quite clear that Dirk had to take over her role in shepherding and helping her boys through the trials and tribulations of young adulthood. Lori was a bright, vivacious and full of energy person. Any party or get-together was more enjoyable with her presence. Brought into the extended Dinsmore family by marriage, she soon became a favorite and integral part of the group. Maintaining the solidity and integrity of the Dinsmores was very important to her; she, Dirk and the boys put on some of the best and most memorable family get-togethers in recent history. Lori tried to live her life by the motto "Live well, laugh much, love often" and those surrounding her benefited immeasurably from her practicing of this belief. Lori's lifetime interest in sewing developed into a full-time passion for quilting. She made many friends in the quilting community and was instrumental in putting together numerous quilting and sewing sessions where she and her friends could talk, sew and laugh together for hours on end. Lori became very artistic and proficient with her beloved long-arm quilting machine and was proud of the beautiful quilts she was able to produce. In her final weeks and days she gave many of these quilts to the people she knew would treasure them most. She will be sorely missed by her quilting friends. Lori is survived by her husband Dirk, sons Nathan and Nolan Dinsmore, brother Corky Schoonmaker and wife Jill of McKinleyville, sister Lila Bollman of Eureka, and numerous cousins, nephews, nieces and in-laws. She was preceded in death by her beloved mother Joyce and her father Ed. Friends and relatives are invited to attend memorial services Friday, June 17th at 12:30 PM at Gobles's Fortuna Mortuary followed immediately by a celebration of life at the Rio Dell Fire Hall. At her specific request, NO TEARS ARE ALLOWED at the celebration of life, only good stories and remembrances of a life well and fully lived. Interment will be done at a later date at the Dinsmore family plot at Ocean View Cemetery in Eureka. The family wishes to give a special thanks to cousins Jay and Meg Goble and Allen Dinsmore for their unstinting help and support when Lori was undergoing treatment at Stanford, to special friends Christi Bess, Carolyn Kapus and Sue Thissell for their help and support at home after Stanford, and to Melinda Herman for her greatly appreciated and tender care-giving in Lori's final weeks. The many other friends and relatives that offered their help are also thanked for their support; unfortunately Lori's illness forced her world to constrict to only a select few; please do not be offended that she was unable to accept your help. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made in her name to the American Cancer Society, 2942 F Street, Eureka, CA 95501. Please sign the guestbook at www.times-standard.com Click on obits.