Diane Schmitt

Diane was born Lynn Diane Nicholson in 1934 in south Texas, the daughter of Pauline and John Nicholson. She grew up in Capulin, New Mexico. She graduated from high school in Des Moines, N.M. and attended New Mexico State University.

Diane married Carl Schmitt in 1952. They had three children, Mike, Robert, and Sue. The family lived in northeast New Mexico until 1963 when they moved to Lakin, Kan. They established a small ranch west of Lakin in the mid-1960s where they raised cattle, horses, and their children. Diane worked for many years at the ASCS, now known as the Farm Service Agency (FSA) office in Lakin.

After their retirement, Diane and Carl moved to Sun Lakes, Ariz. During retirement, Diane and Carl enjoyed visiting family and grandchildren. They also traveled extensively in Mexico and spent many winters with friends in San Blas, Nayarit. She and Carl loved the cultures of the Southwest and Mexico.

Diane was a wife, mother and grandmother, artist, cook, cowgirl, traveler, reader, golfer, gamer, and gardener. In her youth in New Mexico, she was a cowgirl, barrel racer and rodeo queen. Her grandfather taught her to hunt and fish. As a child, she enjoyed helping her grandfather, Homer J. (Bookie) Farr, who was the superintendent of the Capulin Mountain National Monument.

Diane was preceded in death by Carl, who passed away in November 2014. She is survived by her children: Michael Schmitt and his wife Alana in Arizona; Robert Schmitt and his wife Loraine in Oregon; Sue Schulte and her husband Kent in Kansas, and daughter-in-law Maureen Schmitt in North Carolina. She will be missed by her grandchildren: Ryan Schmitt (Bethany), Erin Schmitt; Nathan Schmitt (Tricia); Chelsea Schmitt; Clint Schulte (Kayla); Karly Schulte; Lindsay Mahoney (Sean); Matt Poole; and Diane’s great grandchildren: Nolan, Elliot, Sebastian, Aiden, Harper; Lia and Bryson. She is survived by a sister, Sally Brorby (Tom) in Texas.

A family graveside service will be held on Oct. 15 in Chandler, AZ, and a memorial service is planned for Dec. 23. Diane’s beloved dog, Chico, was a rescue pet, and the family suggests memorial contributions be made in Diane’s name to the Arizona Humane Society. Condolences may be made on the Valley of the Sun Funeral Home website at www.valleyofthesunfuneralhome.com.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.valleyofthesunfuneralhome.com for the Schmitt family.