Barbara Ann (Ervin) Schmidt

Loving and Beloved
Devoted Wife and Mother
Dutiful Daughter and Sister
Attentive Aunt
Constant Friend

Faithundefined Courageundefined Graceundefined Loveundefined

These were the qualities that defined Barbundefineds life, a life that her son Eric and husband Mike were blessed to share for more than 40 years.

Born in Helena, Montana, on January 24, 1952, Barb moved with her parents, Doane and Thelma (Kersch) Ervin to Spokane, Washington, when she was 18 months old. She grew up in the familyundefineds Spokane Valley home where she was joined by her sister Cindy (Cynthia undefined married name Savage) and brother Ted (Theodore). Barb welcomed Jesus into her life as a young child and steadfastly maintained her faith throughout her life undefined even while suffering the ravages of multiple sclerosis.

After graduating from West Valley High School in 1970, Barb attended Business College in Portland, Oregon. Barbundefineds patience, attention to detail, and determination ideally suited her to work as an automotive Title Clerk. It was in that role, while working for Sherwin-Hollenback VW, she met her husband, Mike Schmidt. Barb and Mike believed that the Lord brought them together to complete and sustain each other. Barb became Mikeundefineds devoted wife and mother to Mikeundefineds two-and-a-half-year-old son Eric. As Eric later noted, undefinedMy Dad chose well!undefined

Married on April 18, 1981, Barb and Mike moved into a small house on Spokaneundefineds South Hill, where they lived until Mike took a position with a training and consulting firm in Boston, Massachusetts. While Mike moved to Boston to begin working, Barb stayed in Spokane to pack their belongings. She and Eric traveled to Boston during Ericundefineds spring break.

Four years later, Barb and Mike moved back west to the Seattle area to be closer to Eric. They started their own consulting and training business, Schmidt and Associates, of which Barb was Vice President. Barbundefineds greatest joy was being a partner with Mike and a devoted mother to Eric.

Barb nurtured Ericundefineds love of music from his earliest years. As he grew, Barb and Mike enjoyed attending Ericundefineds concerts, his many sporting events, and his graduation from Shorewood High School. When air travel became impossible for Barb, she and Mike took the train to Chicago to attend his graduations from Northwestern University for his Bachelorundefineds Degree and the University of Chicago for his Masterundefineds Degree. Barb was blessed to witness Ericundefineds marriage to Jamie and the birth of two beautiful grandchildren, Artemis and Elijah.

Even though Barb experienced the first symptoms of multiple sclerosis in 1981 and chronic symptoms in 1988, it wasnundefinedt until 1990 that the disease was finally diagnosed. The relentless progression of the disease became an ever-present part of life for Barb and Mike, but they faced it together. When they could, they loved spending time together at Salishan resort on the Oregon Coast.

Barb awoke every morning, ready to assist Mike in any way she could. At night while Mike was working, Barb would call out, undefinedI love you! Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.undefined Knowing that she was there always strengthened Mike to carry on. She was always there for Mike.

Over the years, Barb progressed from using a cane, to a walker, to a wheelchair. Ultimately, she became a quadriplegic. Throughout, Barbundefineds faith in her Lord was never shaken. She faced each day with courage and grace, always placing her love for her family first. As a statement of their commitment to each other, Barb and Mike renewed their wedding vows in April of 2015. In a song, he wrote for her, Mike told Barb, undefinedYouundefinedre Godundefineds greatest earthly gift to me. Forever, hand in hand.undefined

Our family takes comfort in knowing Barb is with her Lord and Savior and has a new body that is free from pain and limitations. She is able to do all the things she loved to do, running like she did as a child, going for walks, cooking, and praising her Lord. She has been reunited with departed loved ones, including her father Doane. We look forward to the time when we will also be reunited with her in Heaven.

We love you and miss you terribly, Barundefined.

A viewing will be held on Friday, 12/3/2021 from 12-4pm at Beckundefineds Tribute Center, 405 undefined 5th Ave S, Edmonds. The Memorial Service will be on Sat., 12/4/2021 at 12noon at the Lamb of God Lutheran Church, 12509 27th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98125; Interment to follow at 2pm at Beckundefineds Restlawn Cemetery, 23800 undefined 104th Ave W, Edmonds.