Raymond Charles Schmitt

Raymond Charles Schmitt passed away May 31, 2014.  He was born July 8, 1941 to Otto and Agnes (Pierre) Schmitt of Cheney.  He and his brother and sister were the first set of triplets to survive at Sacred Heart Hospital.  A 1959 graduate of Cheney High School, he was raised on the farm in the Lance Hills area where he continued to work until he met Joan Stromberger of Sprague, Wash. in a hay field and later married in 1969. 

He was the Union Oil Distributor in Cheney from 1970 until 1977 and then had the distributorship in Hoquiam, Wash. from 1977 until 1979.  In 1979, he and his family moved to Sprague where he continued the Stromberger ranching operation on Crab Creek where he and Joan raised their family.

Ray enjoyed his work at "Crab Creek Cattle Company," winning several awards for quality livestock. He faithfully followed his children to their activities and in later years, followed his grandchildren to their activities as well.

He was preceded in death by both his parents; sister Mary (Danforth) Heffner; brother Robert Danforth; brother, Donald Schmitt; and sister Laura (Schmitt) Berggren.  He is survived by his triplet siblings, Ronald Schmitt and Arlene (Schmitt) Mowatt, both of Cheney; the love of his life, Joan (Stromberger) Schmitt of Sprague; his children and grandchildren: Connie (Pat) Gorman of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and Alex McGrath of Sprague; Cathy (John) MacDonald and Catie, Mary and Jack of Omak, Wash; Christy (Rob) Peck and Alyssa and Scott of Spokane Valley; Ray (Amy) Schmitt and Gretchen and Kort of Medical Lake; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be 10:30 a.m. to noon June 12, followed by burial at Spokane Memorial Gardens at 2 p.m. and a memorial service at 4 p.m. at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 639 Elm, Cheney. Salad-dessert potluck with meat provided immediately following. Online guestbook at cheneyfuneral.com. Cheney Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.