Oleta Schmitz

Oleta Schmitz, longtime resident of Gainesville passed away on Wednesday, June 19, 2013 at the age of 90.


Services will be held on Saturday, June 22 at 10:00 am at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church with the interment to follow at Fairview Cemetery.


A Rosary will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. June 21, 2013 at the Geo. J. Carroll Funeral Home.


Oleta was born on July 13, 1922. She attended school in Myra for ten years before transferring to Gainesville where she graduated from high school in 1939. She then entered the nurses training program at the Gainesville Sanitarium where she studied for thirteen months before the program was disbanded. She then went to work at S. H. Kress and later worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone. She married Ray Bezner in 1943 and they moved up and down the west coast of the United States where he served during the war. Ray died of cancer in 1949. Two years later, on November 15, 1951, Oleta married Freddy Schmitz who remained her life partner for 62 years until his death last year. When the children were young, she worked for Dr. Howard Davenport for five years and was thankful for her nurses training.


Oleta was an avid bridge player and was known by many for her ability at the game. She enjoyed cooking for her family, who fondly remember the Sunday lunches at Grandma’s house.


Oleta is survived by two sons, Buster Bezner and wife Marcy and Mike Schmitz and wife Marcia; four grandchildren Rae Ann Gerken (Jeff), Robby Bezner (Carmen), Melinda Schmitz and Justin Schmitz (Karah); and six great-grandchildren, Sarah, Hannah and Mary Gerken, Madison and Blake Bezner and Harper Grace Schmitz. She is also survived by one sister, Treba Dobkins and many nieces and nephews.


Nephews Tommy Schmitz, Bobby Schmitz, Joe Schmitz, John Schmitz, Steve Schmitz and Brad Crowsey will serve as pall bearers.


The family has requested that memorial donations be made to Saint Mary’s School, 931 N. Weaver, Gainesville, Texas 76240.



She was preceded in death by her husband Freddy, her parents, Letha and Lee Livingston and a twin sister who died as an infant.