Ernest William Schmidt

A visitation with family present will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 29, 2023 at Marshall Funeral Home Chapel. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Marshall Funeral Home of Alva. Ernest William Schmidt, son of the late Roland Ferdinand and Laura Marie (Kirmse) Schmidt, was born July 5, 1943, at Cherokee, and passed away July 25, 2023, at Alva, at the age of 80 years and 20 days. Ernest grew up in the Alva area, graduating from Alva High School. He attended a year at Northwestern Oklahoma State University. He was united in marriage to Karen Johnson in 1963. To this union three children were born, Curt, Pam, and Mark. He later married Sally Bragg in 1998 and they made their home on the farm south of Alva. He was a former mailman and raised wheat and Angus cattle. He loved his cattle and always carried cow pellets in his pockets when going to the pasture so he could hand feed his cows. Ernest was a member of the Oklahoma Wheat Growers Association, serving as president for several years. His passion was building and flying remote control airplanes and was a member of the Model Airplane Club in Enid. He and his wife, Sally, went to many fly-ins. They also enjoyed country western dancing and even won a dance contest for their dancing efforts. Besides his parents, Roland and Laura, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Karen; and a brother, Larry Schmidt. Ernie is survived by his wife, Sally, of Alva; his children, Curt Schmidt and wife, Tina, of Stillwater, Pamela Dilbeck and husband, Rick, of Yakima, Washington, and Mark Schmidt and wife, Kim, of Dacoma; his stepsons, Anthony Bragg and wife, Rhonda, of Oregon, Missouri, and Andrew Bragg and wife, Laurie, of Piedmont; and his sister, Arlene Manning of Lowell, Arkansas. Also surviving are grandchildren, Macy Couldry and husband, Evan, Caylie Schmidt and fiancé, Brandon Vierling, Corbin Schmidt, Jeremiah Bragg, Ryan Dilbeck and wife, Khatya, Rachel Dilbeck, Mason Bragg, Ainsley Bragg, Layla Schmidt, Zoey Schmidt, Kelcy Cannon, Hannah Valdez, and Megan Valdez; great grandchildren, Aiden Couldry, Marcus Couldry, Layla Couldry, Brylee Vierling, Korbyn Vierling, and Trace Cannon; other relatives and many friends. Memorial contributions may be made through the funeral home to the Northwestern Foundation for the Ag Department.

Ernest William Schmidt

July 5, 1943 - July 25, 2023