Donald "Granma" C. Schmidt

Donald C. Schmidt AKA "Granma", 74, passed away peacefully at home after a brave struggle with cancer. A Memorial Service is scheduled for 10:00 AM, Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at First Baptist Church with Mr. Roger Simmons, officiating. He was born in Torrington, Wyoming to wonderful parents, Jacob D. and Dovie J (Buse) Schmidt. They moved to Carlsbad where JD Schmidt was a well-loved and known miner. Don was a welder fabricator by trade and worked as an independent contractor for many years before going to work at the WIPP site. He was a perfectionist when it came to welding and always said, "I do one thing very well... and then I move on." It might have taken him longer but he always got the job done right thus came the affectionate nickname "Granma" from his co-workers. He retired from the WIPP Site in 1999 and a few of you will remember the infamous "retirement party." There were many jobs Don had through his life including sinking the shaft at Sunspot for the large Telescope, he was at the well known Gnome Project and was one of the ones that went back in the shaft afterwards. He loved to fish more than eat and was often on the lake with his two best fishing buds, Jay Trotter and Whit Whitfield. He could also be found in front of the tv when the Dallas Cowboys were playing, to him there wasn't any other team. Don loved his family, especially his wife Bonita whom preceded him leaving this world in 2006. He will forever be loved and missed by his family and all that knew him, He is survived by his children: son, Don Jackson and wife Toni, of Ruidoso; daughter, Tammy Nyman and husband, Rod of Loving; sons, Donny L Schmidt and wife, Rhoda of Texas, and Mr. & Mrs. Larry Schmidt of Texas. Two Grandsons: J.D. Moffitt of South Dakota and Phillip Schmidt and wife, Kim of Texas. Granddaughters, Amber Sandford & husband Larkin of Texas and Michele Nyman of Minnesota. Six Great-grandchildren: Darion Fay Moffitt, Lilly, Maddie & Caleb Schmidt and Cheyenne and Colten Sandford all of Texas. Brothers: Jacob Daniel (Jakie) Schmidt and David Schmidt. Nephew, Shane and Trista Wright and their son, Dalton; Aunt, Nancy Wheeler; sister-in-law, Donna Whitfield and husband, Whit. He was also close to cousins: Rhonda Kay, Jay and Ashley Trotter, Sonya Le & Eric Lundsford, Cody Le Greer; nephew and neice, David Allen Schmidt and family and Judith Dean and family. The family asks that donations be made to Landsun Hospice, 1815 Westridge Road, Carlsbad, NM 88220 or any Hospice. Landsun Hospice took very good care of him and he liked his nurses, especially Tish, and he and his family are very thankful for Dr. Latif and staff and Dr. Hadzic and staff. Anyone that would like to speak at the service or have comments read at the service may contact Roger Simmons at 575-361-0992. The family suggests casual dress for the Memorial Service. Denton-Wood Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements.