Minty Schmid

Arminta Louise “Minty” Schmid at the age of 70 passed the morning of August 20 ^th as a result of an automobile accident.

Minty Schmid was born on August 28, 1951 to parents Frank “Ernie” Moran and Dorothy (Adamson) Moran in Lakeview, Oregon. She grew up alongside her sister Karen and her parents in Silverlake, Oregon where she attended elementary through middle school.  In her elementary years she was part of the “Chuck Wagon Gang” Silverlake 4-H club along with being a Job’s daughter with the Masonic lodge.  Minty attended 9 ^th , 10 ^th and 11 ^th grade at Lakeview High School 74 miles from home staying with friends and family.  While attending school in Lakeview she was part of the three G’s club.  She finished out her secondary education closer to home at Paisley for her 12 ^th grade year and achieved her High School diploma.

In 1969 she moved to Salem, where she earned an associate degree from Merritt Davis Business college.  While attending Merritt Davis she met Thomas “Tom” Schmid doing what they loved, cruising the streets of Salem with friends.  They settled in the Aumsville and Sublimity area, and were blessed with three daughters, Arminta “Amy”, Elyse “Ely”, and Daina. Tom and Minty were married a wonderful 51 years.

Minty had a long and amazing career of 30+ years at Chemeketa Community College as a College Transcript Specialist and program manager.  The role that she held was extensive; it included evaluating students’ transcript’s, the course scheduler, the student intake manager, the course enrollment scheduler and the academic counselor for students investigating or enrolled in Chemeketa's alternative high school completion program (Winema,) for students in Chemeketa's Early College High School program and for those older students working toward Chemeketa's Adult High School Diploma.

Minty tracked attendance, grades, and credits.  She was the communication link between Winema and the counselors at its partnering school districts. She kept students and staff in line, sustaining program standards for safety, attendance, behavior, and academic achievement.  She organized staff meetings.  She maintained supplies.  When necessary, she contacted parents, maintenance workers, and campus IT staff.  For decades she was essentially the heart of the program.  Minty helped many students on their educational journey.

She spent her free time gardening, camping, she was part of the poet society where she and her friends got together many of Friday nights.  Spent time with her beloved family, as well as her many car friends, and taking road trips to the coast and Eastern Oregon. After retirement she took up swimming at the Stayton pool and gained new friends. She loved music and could be caught jamming out with her harmonica to blues music even if it was enjoying her own company.  She could light up any room; her love of dance and music was infectious. “Green Onions” by Booker T & the M.G.’s is her and Toms’ favorite song; they spent time at the Keizer Elks club enjoying the evenings dancing.  Even though she may deny she was a master of conversation.  She was always available to anyone who needed to talk.

Minty passed away far too soon, her family and friends will miss hearing her laugh and seeing her smile, her kind and loving heart.  She was our matriarch, but her light will continue to shine on.

Minty is survived by her husband, Thomas (Tom) Schmid; sister, Karen Winer; daughters, Amy (Andrew) Simpson, Ely (Jamie) Acker, and Daina Schmid (Josh Becker), as well as her grandchildren Amado Schmid, Kaison Acker, Fithian (Fae) Acker, Kingston Simpson, Korra Simpson, Sidonia Simpson, and Cyrus Simpson. She is also survived by a large community of friends and extended family. Her loved ones will miss her dearly.