Mercedes Schmidt, age 93, passed away October 6, 2017

She was born on July 16th, 1924 in Eskdale, WV, a small coal mining community, in the Appalachian Mountains. She was the daughter of Joseph and Lucy Alice (Carr) Gayton.

An admitted tomboy, she enjoyed hiking and picking berries, jumping out of barn lofts, and gardening with her dad. She excelled in school, taking advanced Latin courses, which later aided in her ability to solve many a crossword puzzle.

In support of the war effort during WWII, she moved with her sister to Detroit, MI, where she worked as a counter sinker on the wings of the B17 bomber. She later moved to Rochester, NY as a glass inspector for Bausch & Lomb.

She returned to her hometown, where she was often described as the most beautiful girl in town and in 1947 married Henry S. Schmidt, Jr. She and her husband had four children and in 1959 they moved to Topeka, KS to raise their family, where she lived for over 40 years.

She was the most wonderful mother in the world and a very loving, sensitive, caring person. She was an excellent cook and a talented artist, leaving many cherished recipes and paintings. She was dedicated to her Savior, Jesus Christ.

She is survived by daughters; Cynthia Heath, Pamela Farrell, Kathy (Todd) Nance; her son, Tim (Kathy) Schmidt; grandchildren, Heather Ryan, Ashley Dietz, Joe Farrell, Nathan, Matthew, and Tad Nance, Kathryn Loerch, Marc Schmidt, and Megan Masterson and 9 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, two brothers and five sisters.

Memorial service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 14, 2017 at Penwell Gabel, Mid-Town Chapel, 1321 SW 10th, Topeka, KS. Interment will be at West Lawn Memorial Garden Cemetery, 820 SW Auburn Rd., Topeka, KS. The family will receive friends an hour before service.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Topeka Rescue Mission, 600 N Kansas Ave. Topeka, KS 66608.

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