Shirley Ann (Pfeifer) Schmidt

Shirley Ann (Pfeifer) Schmidt

Shirley Ann (Pfeifer) Schmidt, 84, Catharine, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 17, 2023  at her home surrounded by her children.  She was born December 25, 1938, on the family farm in Hyacinth to Aloysius A. and Katherine (Horning) Pfeifer.  She attended Locust Grove for eight years, then St. Mary of the Plains in Dodge City as a boarding student, graduating in 1956. 

She married Emery R. Schmidt on October 10, 1959, in Hays.  They celebrated 61 years of marriage until his passing on January 15, 2021.

After high school, at the age of 17, she went to St. Anthony’s Hospital to get a job and was trained at the hospital as a certified nurse aide.  Her jobs throughout her life consisted as an aide on the floor at the hospital, home health aide, compassionate caregiver in homes, later as a senior companion, mentor for future nurses and as a guest presenter for prospective nurses. After many years of service, she retired in her 70s. 

Shirley was an avid fan of the Kansas City Royals and Chiefs.  She also enjoyed all the game shows, especially Wheel of Fortune, and doing crossword puzzles.  Her daily routine throughout life included saying several rosaries every morning, cooking for her family (which she loved), and her farmwife work of assisting Emery on the farm by running for parts on any given day during harvest and providing meals out on the field for all the guys.  She and Emery spent many occasions getting together with the neighbors having after-harvest parties, card parties (pinochle), planning and putting on community festivities and supported school functions.  She was a devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, caregiver, and friend.  She was a lover of animals and leaves behind a dog, Jake, and a kitty.  Shirley was a “giver”, always stood up for others and did not stand for bullying. She knew no stranger.  In later years, she and her husband enjoyed going to the Golden Q on Sundays.  She and her children and their families continued this tradition after his death.  She enjoyed her burger and beer up until her death.

She was a member of St. Catherine Catholic Church, the St. Catherine Christian Mothers Altar Society and taught catechism.

She is survived by her son, Greg Schmidt and wife, Pam, Catharine; two daughters, Jackie Jones and husband Tim, Hays and Lisa Stouffer and husband, Allen, Leavenworth; daughter-in-law Ann Schmidt, Catharine; one brother, Verlin Pfeifer, Hill City; three sisters, Mary Vogt and husband Rick, Chicago, IL, Sheila Thompson and husband Tim, Kansas City, and Rebecca Tolemy and husband, David, Chicago, IL; two brothers-in-law Adolph Schmidt and wife, DeAnn and Gerald Schmidt and wife Elaine, all of Hays; three sisters-in-law Rosie Schmidt, Hays, Cora Dortland, Gorham, and Sandy Pfeifer, Covington, PA; 12 grandchildren, Eric (Kelli) Schmidt, Ryan (Jennifer) Schmidt, John (Aubrey) Jones, Rachel (Scott) VonFeldt, Niki (Tony) Smith, Casey (Nathan) Wendel, Erin (Ryan) Sims, Kyle Schmidt, Carly Schmidt (Fiancé Tyler Boling), Shelby Stouffer, Lucas (Megan) Stouffer, and Michael Schmidt. 21 great-grandchildren, Catherine, Evelyn, Sophia, Elon, Mason, and Colby Schmidt, Jace Herbers, Cooper and Georgia Jones, Emma and Julie Smith, Camri, Kaden, and Konnor VonFeldt, Clayton, Tyler and Bennett Wendel, Olivia and Rhett Sims, Emerie and Renlie Stouffer, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her youngest son, Michael A. Schmidt, her parents, two sisters, Lillian and infant sister Theresa, one brother, Patrick Pfeifer, seven brothers-in-law, Herbert Schmidt, Wilfred Rome, Ray Dinkel, Everett Dortland, Alfred Schmidt, Elmer Schmidt, and Maynard Evans, and seven sisters-in-law, Esther Schmidt, Francis Schmidt, Cyrilla Evans, Irene Dinkel, Fidelia Rome, Midge Pfeifer, and Ginger Pfeifer.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Thursday, September 21, 2023 at St. Catherine Catholic Church, Catharine.  Burial will follow in St. Catherine Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 8:00 on Wednesday and from 8:30 am until 9:30 on Thursday, all at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.  A St. Catherine Christian Mothers Altar Society rosary will be at 6:00 pm followed by a vigil service at 6:30, all on Wednesday at the funeral home.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested and made payable to St. Catherine Church or St. Catherine Cemetery Fund.  Condolences and memories of Shirley can be sent to the family at www.haysmemorial.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Shirley Ann (Pfeifer) Schmidt, please visit our floral store.