Helen Eileen Schmidt

Former Grants Pass resident, Helen Eileen Schmidt, age 93, of Clackamas, Oregon died Monday, February 11, 2013 at The Fountains Assisted Living Facility in Happy Valley, Oregon.

A funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at Bethany Presbyterian Church in Grants Pass with grandson, Pastor Michael Lyda, Youth Pastor from Chicago will be officiating. Interment will be at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at Eagle Point National Cemetery. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

Helen was born February 8, 1920 in Woodland, Washington to Charles & Freda Griffith. She grew up in Woodland and attended Woodland High School. She attended secretarial school in Portland, Oregon before becoming a WAC during World War II. After returning from her military service, she married Raymond Schmidt on June 27, 1947 in White Salmon, Washington. In 1951 they moved to Grants Pass and raised three daughters. She also was the bookkeeper for her husband’s business, Schmidt Lumber Co.

Helen was a member of the Elks Lodge and the Grants Pass Golf Club. She was also very active at Bethany Presbyterian Church where she was a deaconess.

Helen was an avid golfer and her other hobbies included gardening, Bridge Club, sewing and reading.

Survivors include three daughters, Rae Schlappi of Redmond, Oregon, Amaya Gayle Gregory of Ridgefield, Washington and Janet Lyda of Carson City, Nevada; a sister, Margaret Woodard of St. Louis, Missouri; a brother, Dan Griffith of Opportunity, Washington; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Schmidt on June 19, 1987; three sisters; her mother; and her father.