Marla Jo Schmid

and Marvin Andrew Moats, grew up in Ada, OK. She joined her beloved daughter Stephanie

Margot Schmid on May 8, 2022, after a prolonged battle with Parkinson’s and Lewy Body

Dementia.

When asked where she was from, she smiled with that “Marla Twinkle” in her eyes and

responded “Every hick town in West Texas and Oklahoma!” Her family operated an oil drilling

Business.

Early on she showed kindness towards people and the desire to be with them,

heart-warming, charming, non-confrontational or critical yet with a mind of her own! She made

many lifelong friends in her childhood.

Marla lost her beloved father to a tragic accident when she was 10, her mother moved

the family to Ft. Worth, TX , where Marla finished High School with Honors, making lots of

lasting friends as a teenager due to her extraordinary personality.

In 1962 Marla’s uncle Dr. Beckerly a Nuclear Physicist and Member of the International

Atomic Energy Commission situated in Vienna, Austria invited her to spend her High School

Grad. summer vacation with his family. A pretty blonde Oklahoma/Texas girl surrounded by

some of The Greats of European Gov.& International Officials, Cultured Intellectuals and even

“Nobles” of Society befriended her, appreciated her for her obvious ability as a young woman to

make human contact with her intelligence, warmth and charm. Yes, comments according to

Beckerly’s feedback in later years about her personality and appearance were

“EXCEPTIONAL”, and another unique example of her ability to connect with people: the United

Nations Secretary General U Thant ‘s family invited her to join an extended family trip to the

Alpine Countries, Balkans and adjacent countries for two weeks. Her journals shared her

impressions of the post WWII reconstruction efforts in these countries with the compassionate

intelligent comments of a pre-college young US-citizen.

In 1962 Marla Jo enrolled in Oklahoma University, but after a year had to transfer to

TCU, Ft. Worth, due to her mothers illness. In 1967 she graduated with Honors from TCU with

a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education.

Also in 1967, she met the love of her life Joachim K Schmid, a German sponsored Grad

student and married him in 1968. In the first 10 years of their marriage, they were blessed with

the birth of Stephanie Margot in 1969 and Joachim Marc in 1975. The family transferred from

Irving, Euless, Sherman to Tyler, TX and Marla enjoyed substitute teaching with her usual gift of

warmth and care for the kids and made many lasting friendships in these towns.

In 1970 Marla surprised everyone with her determination: she wanted her German

in-laws to meet their grandchild Stephanie and formally introduce herself to the Schmid Family.

For that purpose she insisted that she would go back to school and learn German, without much

help from her husband.

She visited their home in Nuremberg, Germany: what a surprise! And when her

husband joined them two months later his sweetheart was able to converse almost fluently in

German! She was much admired and respected, and loved by his parents and Joachim’s

brother Wolfgang, family and friends. Again her character, sophistication and intelligence were

much appreciated and Joachim was so proud of her. By the way, the Father-In-Law Wolfgang

Sr. was smitten by her Grace Kelly look!

In 1977 her husband was offered a promotion to represent his company in Europe,

headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. The company transferred Joachim, now a US citizen and

they became “Expatriates” and Marla joined Brussel's US American Women's Club. Again, her

personality and talents were quickly recognized and appreciated and she was volunteering as

Asst. Coordinator for the US-Children's Care in the school system in Belgium.

In 1980 upon returning to the U.S., Joachim chose to work for his company in

Austin, TX. Marla volunteered for the Suicide Hotline and Al-Anon and raised their children.

In 1982 she joined Above and Beyond Travel Agency where she proved again her

professional value as an excellent business partner exercising outstanding customer service for

28 years, retiring in 2011.

Needless to say traveling the world was her passion, and in many places she left an

imprint on individuals due to her ability to communicate and engage people worldwide. Marla

was a friend to everyone.

Most importantly Marla was a loving mother, wife and partner and was devoted to her

family. Her compassion and dedication to those around her was always evident. Grandson

Wolfgang Walker Schmid was born July 3, 2011 and Marla and Joachim volunteered as nannies

2 days a week for 2 years. What a pleasure!

Marla was preceded in death by her beloved daughter Stephanie Margot Schmid in

2003, sister Judith Ann Menzel and her daughter Lisa Shawn Gilchrist, her mother and father

Dorothy and Marvin Moats. She is survived by her beloved husband of 53 years Joachim K.

Schmid and son Marc J Schmid and wife Blair Walker M.D. and their sons Wolfgang Walker

Schmid and Gordon Cooley Schmid, Brother In Law and Wife Wolfgang and Sylvia Schmid, with

daughters Kathrine and Astrid. Niece Stacey and husband Ray Hutcherson and their children

Taylor and Holden, Nephew John W Gilchrist, Cousins Denna, Kay, David and Gordon Jr and

Extended family.

The Schmid family would like to thank the many people who have provided care for

Marla: Brightstar Care, Encompass Home Health and Inhabit Hospice. A special thank you to

her niece Stacey Hutcherson, for her devotion that went beyond being a “caregiver”.

A Burial service will take place on May 19, 2022 at Austin Memorial Park at 9:30 a.m.

with a Celebration of Life to follow at Weed-Corley Fish Funeral Home 5416 Parkcrest Dr

Austin at 11:00 a.m.