Obituary of Kathleen Lois Schmelzer

Kathleen (Kathy) L. Schmelzer beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend to all passed into the arms of the Lord  on April, 30, 2021 in Olalla, WA, her place of residence for the past 20 years. Kathy was 75 years old.  

 

Kathy, born Kathleen L, Cassady on October 10, 1945 in the town of Cairo, Illinois where she grew up in her childhood home with her brother (Tim) and loving parents, Andy & Anita Cassady. She was raised in a happy home as a Lutheran with many German influences and family traditions that she continued to pass on. Family was important. They would often take the train to visit relatives in Arlington Heights, Illinois where laughter and shenanigans were sure to be found. 

 

She attended Lincoln Grade School, Cairo Jr. High School, and Cairo High School making many cherished life long friends.  

 

After graduation she attended Beautician School in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. She was licensed as a Registered Beauty Culturist in Missouri and Illinois. 

 

In 1963 she met Ed Schmelzer, the love of her life, a soldier from Fort Campbell, Kentucky. They were married in Cairo on November 29, 1964. Over the course of their 56 year marriage Kathy and Ed, built a beautiful family, and a treasured network of friends every step of the way.  

 

They moved to the Pacific Northwest, Kirkland, WA, a few months after getting married, when Ed was sent to Vietnam. Kathy worked as a beautician and expanded her capabilities by attending Lake Washington Vocational Technical Institute and was an honor graduate of the Clerk Typist School. 

 

Kathy had many skills and talents which she used in her professional life while she exhibited a passion for developing her extraordinary artistic ability.  

 

Kathy was known throughout the region for her marvelous creations on paper, canvas and wood using oil paints, water colors, and acrylic media, in addition to wonderful pencil and charcoal drawings. She loved painting Monet’s Garden, landscapes including Mt. Rainier and ocean vistas, flowers with her favorite flower being the rose, country roosters and scenes from the Victorian era .  

 

Kathy and Ed began their family in the Pacific Northwest. Katie was born in 1970 and Marika in 1973. They loved exploring and there were a lot of new adventures to go on together. They bought a boat and spent time exploring the Puget Sound. Kathy learned to scuba dive with Ed, the family went camping, hiking and on drives to the beach. One time meeting some new friends while boating in the San Juan’s Kathy & Ed were invited to join their new friends in Mexico to travel around in their VW Van for a while. Another time when Ed had his pilot license they rented a plane, grabbed a picnic lunch and flew with the girls to Lake Chelan for the afternoon.  

 

Kathy had an adventurous spirit that was always ready and willing to follow or lead in a new direction which included sudden moves when better employment was offered and willingness to give up luxuries to endure hardship when the circumstances required it. Packing up and moving to Hawaii one year, back to the Tri Cities the next year, and on to Alaska and living out of a homemade camper for a summer are just a few examples of her willingness and fortitude.   

 

They lived in Honolulu, Hawaii and many places throughout Washington while the girls were growing up; Kirkland, Kennewick, Pasco, Anacortes, Bellevue and Fall City. 

 

Ed and Kathy truly built their life together - Ed building seven of their homes by hand and Kathy filling them with her whimsical decorations and exquisite art, a welcoming place for friends, neighbors and family. Even trying their hand at a mini farm that included chickens, pigs, goats, horses and a cow. 

 

To Kathy nobody was a stranger, she consistently would strike up a conversation with anyone when she was out and about. She had a big heart and her & Ed would often offer housing or help out family or friends who needed a hand.  

 

She was a wonderful cook and loved trying new recipes. Some of her specialties were lumpia’s, egg rolls, fried  rice, Nana’s goulash and banana pudding. She kept pages and pages of recipes she printed and cookbooks she collected.  

 

She loved the holidays and had special decorations for everyone, especially Christmas, she had an extensive Santa Claus collection. She usually prepared way too much food and sent leftovers home with all.  

 

She loved a clean house with a spritz of air freshener -something floral, just enough to make Ed sneeze and his allergies act up. She loved her flowers and always planted a yard full of color. She enjoyed watching the hummingbirds come and go.  

 

Kathy spent her early retirement in Olalla, WA immersing herself in her passion, attending classes, painting with friends and teaching many others through the years. Ed built her a quaint at-home art studio and you would often find her creating beautiful works of art in her studio while listening to smooth Jazz, drinking a Diet Pepsi with an orange Milano cookie or a York Peppermint Pattie surely nearby.  

 

She loved collecting shells and flat rocks (to paint) during their motor home travels across the US to visit family and friends. Her faithful Ragdoll cat, Elsie was always along for their travels and in later times, Scooter (her Bichon-Poodle).  They also enjoyed being snow-birds in Yuma, Arizona for a couple of years and spent a lot of time out exploring the Kitsap Peninsula when they first moved to Olalla.  

 

In her later retirement years, over the past 8 years, she struggled and persevered with numerous medical problems, as well as life in a wheelchair. Despite her struggles she always greeted everyone with her wonderful smile and a heart full of love. She had a heart of great fullness and a love for the Lord in the most trying of circumstances. She enjoyed special occasions with her family and she brightened up when her grandchildren (and great-grandchildren visited and was the greatest “MeMe” to them, often singing “You Are My Sunshine” to them. She had a playful spirit they will always treasure.  

 

We will miss her dearly and we will forever remember her sayings “see ya later alligator, after while crocodile” and “auf Wiedersehen!” (goodbye until we meet again).  

 

Kathy loved spending time with her family and friends, enjoying lunches out, painting, recounting funny memories or simply just being together. Kathy will be remembered by her love of life, her generosity, her friendliness and kindness to anyone who was lucky enough to cross her path, and her ability to be fun-loving and find levity in any situation. 

 

Kathy was preceded in death by her father, Homer Andrew Cassady, her mother Anita Margaret Cassady, her brother Timothy Andrew Cassady, her infant son, Kenneth E. Schmelzer, and two infant grandchildren Taylor and Brennen.  

 

Kathy is survived by her loving husband of 56 years, Ed, her daughters Katie Schmelzer and  

Marika Greeley. The apple of her eyes- her grandchildren; Brittany (Colby), Seth and Aspyn and her great-grandchildren; Cooper, Bentley and just 8-day old Kaia, She is also survived by her beloved Aunt Lois, and many dearly loved nieces, nephews and cousins.  

 

The family plans to hold a celebration of life for all who knew and loved Kathy this summer to visit and share stories.  

 

As a family, we are grieving our loss but are rejoicing for Heaven’s gain. It lifts our hearts to hear from people whose lives were touched by Kathy. Please share your favorite memory with us. Notes or cards to the family may be sent to PO Box 81, Olalla, WA 98359