Erma Lee Schmidt

Erma Lee Osborn was born February 22, 1935 in Cuba, Missouri to Elmer Alonzo Osborn and Mamie Esther (West) Osborn. She was the third child in the family, joining older sisters, Jean and Elva. Erma lost her place as the baby of the family with the birth of baby brother Marion.

Erma grew up on a farm and had a terrible fear of interactions with farm animals, especially chickens. One day, the Osborn family was up bright and early to make the trip into the city to visit cousins. Upon arrival, little Erma decided that she was going to be a city girl because after the early morning drive, they found their cousins still in bed asleep.

Erma was a 1953 graduate of Sullivan High school. As a young lady, Erma caught the eye of a young man whom she met at her church, Sullivan First Assembly of God. They began dating and the young man was enamored with Erma. The young man worked for his father at a local filling station. One evening after work, while taking the nights deposit to the bank, the young man made a detour to drive by the Osborn home in hopes of catching a glimpse of Erma. She was near the window brushing her hair. Distracted by her beauty the young man, Donald Schmidt, loses focus of the road and rear ended a parked cattle truck sitting along the street.

Erma officially became Mrs. Donald Schmidt when they wed on November 14, 1953 in Sullivan, Missouri. To their union, were born three children: Donald Ray Jr. (1955), Becky Lee (1960), and Janice Ann (1963). Erma was a life-long homemaker and assistant to her husband. After moving from Florissant to Rocky Mount in the mid 1970’s, Erma helped her husband Don with his business, Schmidt Specialties, a machine shop and boat dock building business. She answered the phone and labored alongside her husband painting and cutting steel.

Erma loved traveling with Don in their motorhome, spending many winters in Yuma, Arizona. She loved the desert landscape and cacti. She had quick wit, a twinkle in her eye and a love for all things sweet including chocolate.

Following Don’s death in 2006, Erma enjoyed traveling with family, spending winters in Florida, and alone time on the screened in porch of her Villa in Osage Beach.
In 2020, Erma rekindled an old friendship with Dale Osborn. The friendship became a romance and in the fall of 2020, Erma traveled West to be with Dale. They married on October 30, 2020 in Myrtle Creek, Oregon.

Dale and Erma divided their time living in Oregon, Arizona, and Missouri before her health prevented her from traveling in the fall of 2021. Erma was a life-long Christian with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Throughout her life, she actively attended Assembly of God Churches.
Erma passed from this life, surrounded by her family into the presence of Jesus on Sunday, January 29th 2023.

She is survived by her husband Dale Osborn, Myrtle Creek, Oregon. Son, Donald Schmidt Jr. (Cindy) Rocky Mount, Missouri, Daughter, Becky Ollison (Dwin) Port Charlotte, Florida. Stepdaughter, Diana Mann, Myrtle Creek, Oregon, Stepson, Mike Osborn, Myrtle Creek, Oregon. Grandchildren: Carrie Jarrett, Christy Ollison, Kellie Sullivan, Bethany Ollison, Jodi Phillips and Zachary Ollison. Great-grandchildren: Haley Jarrett, Kaity Jarrett, Zion Sullivan, Cyrus Phillips, Canton Phillips, Lincoln Ollison, Gracie Sullivan, as well as, many close family members and friends.

Erma is preceded in death by her parents, sisters Jean Cuneio and Elva Tyree, brother, Marion Osborn, husband, Donald Schmidt Sr., daughter, Janice Schmidt, daughter-in-law, Lisa Schmidt, and stepson, Jim Osborn.

A Celebration of Life for Erma Lee Schmidt-Osborn will be held Saturday, February 4 at North Shore Chapel Assembly of God 31047 Main St, Rocky Mount, MO. Visitation 10:00 am till Noon. Service will immediately follow visitation.

Interment Service 3:00 pm. Greenmore Memorial Gardens, 22138 Highway 52 Barnett, MO
In lieu of flowers, family request donations in Erma’s memory be made to The Greater Missouri Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association or Bluegrass Terrace. Funeral arrangements are in the care of Heartland Cremation and Burial-Columbia, Missouri.