Eldeen Joy Schmidt

Published courtesy of the Cordell Beacon

© Cordell Beacon

Graveside services for Mrs. Eldeen Joy (Sawatzky) Schmidt, age 65, Clinton resident, were held at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Bergthal Cemetery near Corn.

Celebration of life services were held at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the First Mennonite Church in Clinton with Rev. Dave Gerbrandt officiating.

Mrs. Schmidt died Tuesday, April 23, 2002, at her home. She was born on June 19, 1936 on a farm on the county line in Washita County, the daughter of Meno and Eva (Schmidt) Sawatzky.

She attended the Clinton schools and graduated from high school in 1954.

On March 21, 1955 she married Eddie Schmidt in Bessie. She was a member of the First Mennonite Church in Clinton.

Her occupations included baby-sitting, working at the former Kellwood plant making drapes and bedspreads, working at the Clinton Veterans Center and even being a church janitor for many years.

She loved the outdoors and quilting, the fellowship of the women on quilting day, the King's Daughters meetings and church fellowship. She sang in the ladies group at church and helped with church fund-raisers.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Kieasu Marler Funeral Home in Clinton.

Survivors include her husband, Eddie Schmidt of the home; a son, Rick Schmidt of Clinton; daughters, Marilyn Kelton and her husband, Bill of Clinton, Karen Martin and her husband, Mark, of Granite; her father, Meno Sawatzky of Clinton; a sister, Beulah Gregg and her husband, Webber, of Cordell; three borthers, Robert Sawatzky and his wife, Joyce, of Joes, Colorado, Ray Sawtzky and his wife, Janet, of Clinton, Roy Sawatzky, and his wife Carolyn, of Bessie; eight grandchildren, five great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Eva Sawatzky.

The family suggests that those who would like to make a memorial contribution in Mrs. Schmidt's honor may do so to the Western Oklahoma Christian School building project.