Hattie Ann Schmidt

Hattie Ann “Toots” Schmidt passed away June 27, 2024 at the age of 93. She was born January 27, 1931 in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  Toots was the first of five children born to Hattie (Taylor) Howatt and Elmer Howatt.  As with most families during the depression, the Howatts struggled.  Mom often told of fanning smoke pots in the house to keep mosquitos at bay while her mom cooked.

 In 1943 the family moved to Oregon to work in the shipyards in Portland. After living in Portland briefly and then Vanport (before the flood), they moved to Sandy, OR.  Toots graduated from Sandy High School in 1948.  Shortly thereafter Toots met Morris Schmidt at a dance.  They married Oct 16, 1948, six weeks after meeting and settled south of Mosier, OR.

 Morris and Toots accumulated property in the area, eventually running a cattle ranch outside of Mosier. The lifestyle included a lot of hard work and cold winters but was infused with a steady stream of family and friends who considered the ranch a getaway and loved spending time with Morris’ stories and Toot’s cooking.  Toots often helped buck hay in between making three huge meals for the family and ranch hands (this may explain the unrelenting back pain she suffered later in life.)

After selling most of the ranch in 1969, the Schmidts moved “closer to town”.  Here they continued to raise four kids and settled into a much easier lifestyle. Toots worked for a while outside the home, including a stint as an electrician at the Marlette Manufactured Home facility in The Dalles. She perfected her counted cross-stitch, traveled most of the US, collected ironstone china, and spent time with friends at the Elks and Eagles. 

Toots is preceded in death by her husband, Morris Schmidt, and her daughter, Beverly Schmidt. She is survived by her children Darrel "Butch" (Audra) Schmidt, Doris Schmidt, Ron (Carina) Schmidt, Maxine Myers, and grandchildren Brooke Schmidt, Chad Schmidt and Gavin Schmidt. Per her wishes the services will be private with a public celebration of life being held in late July.