Mary Ellen Schmidt, 97, peacefully passed away Wednesday, January 24, 2024. Mary Ellen was born July 25, 1926, in Casper, Wyoming to the late Chester and Beulah Badger.

Mary Ellen is survived by son David Schmidt and Mary Hare, son Steve and Monica Schmidt and son Alan and Josie Schmidt; grandson Ryan and Presley Schmidt, granddaughter Stephanie and El Hadji Toure; great grandsons Mahamane Toure and Oumar Toure. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and dear friends.

Mary Ellen was preceded in death by her parents and loving husband of 64 years, Paul. Also preceded in death by brothers Edward Badger and Chester Badger.

Mary Ellen grew up in Port Arthur, Texas. She attended elementary, middle school and high school there, graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1944. She attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri and graduated from Southern Methodist University with a teaching degree in 1948. Mary Ellen was a member of Delta Gamma sorority.

Mary Ellen met Paul Schmidt in Port Arthur, Texas and married on August 22, 1953. Besides Port Arthur, they lived in San Mateo, California, El Paso, Texas, Odessa, Texas and Houston, Texas before retiring to Lago Vista, Texas in 1992. While there she continued to pursue hobbies like gardening, sewing and needleworking. She was a regular member of the ladies' bridge club in Lago Vista. After Paul's death in 2017, she returned to Houston to be close to her sons and their families.

No Houston services are planned. Interment will be later this Spring in a family plot at Overbrook Cemetery in Overbrook, Kansas. The family would like to thank the staff at Stonecreek of Copperfield and Trinity Hospice for their loving care of Mary Ellen.

Memorial contributions can be made to a charity of your choice.