Central Park resident Valerie M. Schmidt, 59, passed away Dec. 30, 2017, at Grays Harbor Community Hospital with her family by her side. She had been battling brain tumors since 2009 with grace and dignity and enjoyed life to its fullest.
Valerie was born in Fairfield, Calif. on July 25, 1958, to Bill and Dolores Erickson of Grays Harbor. Valerie’s father, being in the military for 20 years, moved the family around a good part of her childhood living in such places as Japan, Turkey, and various locations throughout the United States including California, Michigan, Mississippi, and Seattle. Traveling around during her childhood, she had been to Europe and visited places like Athens, Greece, and in Italy, visited Venice, Pompeii, Leaning Tower of Pisa, and had also visited the Vatican. She also visited Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, the Netherlands, Yugoslavia and more. She had visited just about every state in the United States at one time or another.
After his retirement from the military, Valerie spent 20 years working for her dad in the printing and publishing business before going into the banking industry.
Valerie enjoyed bowling, gardening, traveling, cooking, searching for the best Lemon Drop (Rediviva was the leader, the Sea House on Maui was a close second), taking pictures of sea turtles on Maui, QVC, the Cooking Channel, Leavenworth, and most of all, being with her family.
Valerie is survived by her husband, Mike, children Krystal Schmidt, Kevin (Kelley) Schmidt, Sativa Rasmussen (Bobby Campbell, fiancé), and Sierra Rasmussen; sister Joni Bates of Ketchikan, Alaska, and brother Bud (Joanne) Erickson of Aberdeen; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Valerie loved being with her family at birthdays and barbeques, her dog Kubota, grandpups Jack and Bear, and most of all just having fun and a good time whatever she was doing.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Feb. 10, 2018, 3 p.m., at Gepetto’s in Montesano.
A message of condolence or of a memory can be sent to the family at www.fernhillfuneral.com.
Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Twibell’s Fern Hill Funeral Home in Aberdeen, Wash.
