Obituary: Phyllis Arlene Schmidt, 84

Phyllis Arlene (Crawford) Schmidt, aged 84, passed from this life on September 22, 2015 at St. Elizabeth’s Home, a loving care community in East Greenwich. She was comforted by her family.

She was born in Franklin Depot, NY to Lee George and Ethel (Cook) Crawford and was the youngest of four children. She will be remembered as a brilliant educator and mentor, an effective manager, and a talented musician. She was a teacher, principal and superintendent who served in several states and in Africa. She retired from the Jamestown School System. She was a natural entertainer, performing in school, stage shows, churches, and pageants. She represented New York in the Mrs. America pageant. She served her Lord as a choir member, song leader, teacher and pianist. She was a member of Central Baptist Church of Jamestown at her passing. She was blessed to have traveled the world and made lasting friends wherever she went.

Mrs. Schmidt was preceded in death by her beloved huband, Dr. Charles T. Schmidt IV, her parents and her siblings, Lee “Jack” Crawford, Wesley Butts, and Wahneta Bookhout.

She is survived by her children, Kim (Mike) Malone, Cynthia (Garth) Moran, Christine Schmidt, Charles (Debra) Schmidt V. Grandchildren include Travis (Tracie) Malone, Jacob (Angie) Malone, Aaron Malone, Lindsey (Stefan) Sullivan, Stephanie (Nikhil Gehani) Moran, Julie (fiance Michael Coco) Moran, Alexis Schmidt, and Bailey Schmidt. She was excited to have great-grand children Aiden Malone, Samuel Sullivan, Maxwell Sullivan, and Owen Sullivan. She is additionally survived by the thousands of children with whom she worked over the years. She cared for and encouraged each one.
Special thanks are given by the family to the staff and residents of St. Elizabeth’s Home for providing a warm and compassionate home for Mrs. Schmidt at the end of her life. Her friend, Gayle Davis of North Kingstown, became as a sister to her and is warmly remembered.

Visitation will be 9 – 11 am on Saturday September 26th at Fagan-Quinn Funeral Home, 825 Boston Neck Road, North Kingstown, RI, with the funeral to follow at 11 am. Interment will be in Cedar Cemetery, Jamestown. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to St. Elizabeth’s Community, Central Baptist Church of Jamestown, the ASPCA or charity of choice.