Roger Schmidt

Roger Schmidt passed away suddenly on October 30, 2025 after an extended illness. Roger is survived by his wife, the love of his life, Monica Schmidt, his children Krystal Hedrick and her husband Stephen and granddaughter, Zoe, his son Thomas Schmidt and his wife Kristie and their children Aliyah and Grayson, and his youngest daughter Stephanie DeLaCruz and her husband George and their sons William Jackson, Jayden, and Hudson. He is also survived by his sister, Sharla Schmidt-Baker and his nephew Ryan Baker. He is also survived by his mother in law, Rita Nugent as well as many cousins on both the Stephens and Schmidt sides of his family. Roger was preceded in death by his father, Thomas Schmidt and his mother Emily Schmidt and his grandparents, John and Irma Stephens and Frank and Effie Schmidt.

Roger graduated from Coronado High School, then joined the Navy. He served in the Gulf War over in the Middle East. He was an Electronic Warfare Specialist which means he communicated directly with the Captain of the ship concerning incoming ordinance. He literally saw on his screen incoming Scud missiles during the war.

While he was in the Navy, he decided to ask the love of his life, Monica, to marry him. He, Monica, and his mother came to Houston where his older sister Sharla lived to ask Monica to marry him on the beach in Galveston. His mother and sister prepared a picnic basket, and he was over the moon that she said yes. During their early married years, they had their three children all born in different states because of his Navy career. Monica was already in Lubbock with their three children when he left the Navy. He wanted to stay in the Navy, but his rate (the job he did in the Navy) did not have a stateside position. So, he left to be with Monica and his children, especially after he missed the birth of his third child, Stephanie. After a very turbulent and wild trip from the Middle East after he separated from his service, he told his sister that he kissed American soil when he got back to Norfolk on his way to Lubbock.

Roger was a hard worker who was a field engineer for various companies working on banking equipment, then ATMs. He loved tinkering with things, but what he loved most was his family. His wife, children, mother and sister were always covered by his love and prayers. He rarely, if ever, missed a school event or family gathering. He fiercely loved his children, and his calm and steady demeanor kept everyone on an “even keel” to use a Navy term. Now we are all unsupervised, which is a family joke.

Also, Roger was an avid football fan. He loved the Texas Tech Red Raiders so much that as a surprise, his family created a “man cave” for him that is like an alter to his beloved Raiders. He had all the swag: caps, hats, pajama pants, shirts, clock, art work and a myriad of other Raider items. He also loved his Las Vegas Raiders even before they moved. He picked that team as a teenager because they were the “bad boys” of football back in 80’s. Finally, he and his sister were huge fans of the rock band Rush. They used to do air guitar and piano when they were driving around Lubbock.

He truly loved his grandchildren, Zoe, William Jackson, Jayden, Aliyah, Grayson, and Hudson. His love was deep as river and as wide as the sea, and when seeing or talking about them, his eyes lit up with pride.

Roger Dale Schmidt is literally irreplaceable, and his family will keep the memory of this quiet, strong man alive in their memories. He was a man who served his country proudly during war time, took care of his ailing mother, made a beautiful family, and was married for almost 40 years. Roger, the love you instilled in your entire family will never die nor be replaced. Rest in peace, husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, cousin, co-worker, friend, sailor, and most excellent human being with a huge heart. In honor of him, here is the fourth verse of one of his favorite songs by Rush because he will for every be closer to our hearts.

Closer to the Heart – Rush

Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, Neil Pearl, & Peter Talbot-writers

Whoa-whoa, you can be the captain

And I will draw the chart

Sailing into destiny

Closer to the heart

Closer to the heart

Well, closer to the heart, yeah

Closer to the heart

Closer to the heart

I said closer to the heart