Schmidt, Shirley Finefield

Shirley Finefield Schmidt

3/4/1931 - 4/8/2013

A native of Cedar Rapids, Shirley Schmidt passed away peacefully at the Hiawatha Care Center from the effects of Alzheimer's disease, and is now with the Lord.

Born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Shirley was the only, and adored, child of Frieda Woods Finefield and William Lyle Finefield.

Shirley was a proud member of the graduating class of 1949 at Roosevelt High School in Cedar Rapids, and always held fond memories of her friends and fun times during her high school years.

Shirley attended Coe College in Cedar Rapids where she was a popular beauty queen, a member of Chi Omega Sorority, and while acting in a play, met her future husband, Duane Arthur Schmidt.

After their marriage, Shirley and Duane lived in Iowa City, Iowa, Norfolk, Va., and settled in Fort Dodge, Iowa, where Duane owned a successful dental practice. Shirley enjoyed homemaking, raising two daughters, volunteering, modeling, and traveling.

From Fort Dodge the Schmidt family moved to Des Moines, then Cedar Rapids. Shirley was involved with the care of her elderly parents and active in PEO Chapter JI, of which she was a past president.

Shirley divorced and moved to Charlotte, N.C., where she loved the easygoing lifestyle of a “Southern Belle” and made many lifelong friends.

Always an Iowa girl at heart, Shirley returned to Cedar Rapids and thrived working for the Roosevelt Hotel in marketing/event planning, then at Smulekoff's. Her faith was very important to her and during this time she visited many elderly shut-ins and others who were lonely, always a ray of sunshine to those in need.

The warm weather of Arizona called to her and Shirley enjoyed a few years living in the desert.

After a stroke in Arizona, Shirley wanted to return to the Cedar Rapids area. Her daughters found a beautiful and loving home for Shirley first at the Promise House in Hiawatha and then at the Hiawatha Care Center. While recovering from her stroke, it was discovered she had Alzheimer's disease, yet she was peaceful and happy, professing to love where she lived. Shirl adored the caring, upbeat caregivers who adored her right back.

Shirley is survived by daughter, Cyndee “Cyd” Schmidt Ferris and Cyd's husband, David, of San Mateo, Calif.; daughter, Catherine “Cat” Schmidt Lewis, Cat's husband, Howard, their children, Anna Babette, 11, and Howard “Howie” Arthur, 9, of Apex, N.C.; former husband, Dr. Duane A. Schmidt, of Vinton, Iowa; two nephews and their families; two cousins and their families; and many devoted friends all throughout the country.

Shirley's daughters Cyd and Cat wish to thank Administrator Kent Walton and his wonderful team at the Hiawatha Care Center for their commitment to giving Shirley the best life possible. Every day the staff showered her with attention, love, hugs, and kisses.

Thank you, too, to all of the generous PEO sisters, Roosevelt classmates, Promise House employees, and dear friends far and near who prayed for, visited, wrote, or called Shirley to brighten her world.

Special thanks to Shirley's physician, Dr. Mary Anne Nelson, and Shirl's loyal best friends since childhood, Bonnie Malone and Dorothy Saunders.

Shirley will be buried at Cedar Memorial beside her beloved parents. Instead of a funeral service, her family will hold a private vigil near the ocean, her favorite place.

As a remembrance and honor to Shirley Schmidt, and in lieu of flowers, you are invited to perform a good deed for someone in need, in the name of Jesus Christ. “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under Heaven …” Ecclesiastes 3:1.

Please leave an online condolence for the family at under Obituaries.

Published April 14, 2013 in The Gazette