Rea Lu Brown Schmidt (88) passed away on May 24, 2023. She is survived by: her husband, Howard G Schmidt; sisters, Carolyn Redd (Chester), Joyce Dalene (Ron) and her brother, David Brown (Tammy); eight children, Karen Reynolds (Steve), Kathryn McNeil (Kerry), RaShell King (Frank), Lynette Durrant (David), Gerald Schmidt (Leasa), Wayne Schmidt (Kathy), Randy Schmidt (Tara), Kevin Schmidt (Sheri); thirty-seven grandchildren and forty-one great-grandchildren. Rea is preceded in death by: her parents, David Samuel Brown and Ellis Whetten Brown; a brother, David Samuel Brown Jr.; and her sisters, Ellis LaRee Brown, Kathleen Brown Kelly and LaVon Brown Whetten; her grandsons, Steven Kade Perkins, Brock Reynolds and Shane Reynolds.
Rea was born on March 6th, 1935, in Chuichupa, Chihuahua, Mexico. She was raised as the oldest daughter of her parents and loved her family very much. Highlights of her childhood include attending and graduating from Juarez Stake Academy. Rea came from a very large extended family from both her mother (Whetten) and father (Brown). Family was a central part of her life and whenever possible they would gather. Rea has cousins upon cousins, and they all loved to sing and dance and visit! Her love for music and the arts was developed at a young age.
Rea attended BYU in Provo, Utah where she met the love of her life Howard Gerald Schmidt from Gresham, Wisconsin. They were married and sealed for time and all eternity on December 6th, 1955, in the Mesa, AZ temple. They were blessed with 8 beautiful children. They made their home in Colonia Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. Rea was very involved in the community’s schools and church. She taught PE, choir and band and assisted with fundraising for the school fund. Rea was an accomplished pianist and taught piano for over 60 years. Many homes have been blessed by her instruction.
She was a wonderful seamstress sewing all types of clothing for her children and grandchildren. She also enjoyed quilting and made many quilts for those she loved. Her home was a place of refuge for many travelers. She always welcomed friends and strangers alike to her home to rest and be fed. Rea never owned anything she wasn’t willing to share. Many widows were often blessed by her willingness to share homemade bread, milk and beautiful canned goods from her garden.
Rea served in many positions as an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, blessing many with her testimony of the Savior. She and her sweetheart served in many capacities together. They served as Mission President and wife in the Chile, Santiago North Mission. Shortly after their return, she was diagnosed with cancer (58). She underwent surgery and treatment and was blessed to receive a priesthood blessing of healing from an apostle of the Lord. In that blessing he rebuked the cancer and promised her the righteous desires of her heart. She was cancer free for 30 additional years!
After beating cancer Rea and Howard served in various callings and found great joy in serving in the temple. They enjoyed serving in the Colonia Juarez, Chihuahua temple until being called as President and matron for the temple in Oaxaca, Mexico for 3 years, 8 months and then later to serve in the Guadalajara, Mexico temple for 3 years and 2 months. After moving to Pima, AZ, she continued to do family history and serve in the Gila Valley temple until the week before her passing.
She loved her family so much and missed living closer to them. Many will tell you how special she would make them feel.
Her greatest achievement in her life was being a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She truly delighted in each member of her posterity and her testimony that families can be together forever.
In lieu of flowers please donate to the Colonia Juarez Elementary School. You can Venmo your donation in Rea’s memory to @Karen-Reynolds-45 thank you.
Funeral services for Rea will be conducted Saturday, June 3, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., at the Pima Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Bishop Brendan Cluff of the Pima Fourth Ward. Concluding services will follow in the Pima Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Friday evening, June 2, 2023, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., at the Vining Funeral Home and Saturday morning, June 3, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. until 9:45 a.m., at the Pima Stake Center Relief Society Room of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Those who would like to attend the services via Facebook Live can join on Vining Funeral Home’s Facebook page, Saturday morning, June 3, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. (MST).
Online condolences may be offered at www.viningfuneralhome.com
Arrangements are entrusted to Vining Funeral Home.
