Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10
Page 11
Page 12
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15
Page 16
Page 17
Page 18
Page 19
Page 20
Page 21
Page 22
Page 23
Page 24
Page 25
Page 26
12SmokeSignalsHIGHNOONBarbaraLouiseSchmittpassedawayonSeptember2nd2013attheageof78inJacksonHole.HeresaphotographofusatoneofourfirstshowswhenwewereBOTHquiteabityounger.Momdidntlovetobeinthecameralensandportraitswereoutofthequestion.ItshardtoencapsulateawholelifeintoafewparagraphsbutIguessImnotthefirsttoattemptit.Onapersonallevelmymomembodiedthepost-depressionpost-warmidwesternmindsetthathardworkfixeseverything.Althoughshehadsomegreatlifeexperiencestravelingtheworldcollectingfineobjectsandattendingculturaleventsshemaintainedaforthrightdirectattitudeaboutlife.Sheneverwaveredfromtheopinionthatyoucleanedyourownhousecookedyourownmealsandsolvedyourownproblems.Barbaracouldntstandwhiningtearsorexcessivetalkandhadlittlepatienceforanyonewithapropensitytobemaudlin.Shefacedherovariancancerwiththesameattitude.Sheneverfeltsorryforherselfanddidnotwantittobethetopicofconversationmuchlessdweltupon.Barbarajustcontinuedtoliveherlifegivingthediseaseverylittleofhertimeandherthoughtsoutsideofbeingannoyedatvarioussetbacks.ShecontinuedtoenjoycookingandkeepingupwithWesternAmericanatrendstotheveryendandwasdeterminedtoattendshowswhenmanyinherpositionwouldhavefounditdaunting.AsIcontinueforwardIwillmissmanythingsaboutmymombutinparticularherdeclarationthatweneedagooddinner.Mymomlovedwellpreparedfoodpairedwithgoodwineandwasgenerousinsharingtheexperiencewithmeandmanyofmyfriendsandcolleaguesaswetraveledthewestattendingshows.Therearemanythingswecandotohonorherdonatetocancerresearchdonatetohospicecaredonatetoinstitutionssupportingthepreservationofwesternculture.Buttrulythemostmeaningfulthingistobuyormakesomeoneameal.RaiseaglasstoherenjoyeverybiteandforGodssakedontgetmaudlin.EasiersaidthandonebutIllgiveitatry.WrittenbydaughterMarySchmittinfocayusewa.comBarbaraSchmittonleftwithdaughterMarySchmittBarbaraLouiseSchmitt