Frances Eileen Medina

    Frances Eileen Medina, born January 22, 1953 to Edward and Susie Schmidt in Turlock, California, went to be with her Heavenly Father on August 7, 2023 after a courageous journey battling cancer.

   Her childhood years were spent working with her siblings on their family farm. She learned to work hard and be frugal. She learned not to complain, and to trust God in the difficult times, which helped her through her sickness. At the age of 11 she accepted the Lord and was baptized by Minister Kenneth Koehn into the Church of God in Christ Mennonite.

     As a teenager, the family went to El Mirage, Arizona Mission. This is where she met Dad. After that mission term, the family returned to California where Mom began a life of service working at Grace Nursing Home.  Then the family was called to the mission in Mexico. On their way to Mexico, they made a stop in El Mirage, Arizona. This is where Mom received the proposal from Dad. Shortly after on June 9, 1974 she became his “ Beautiful Blue Eyes” and was for 49 years. Together they built a life and had three sons and one daughter. They were not only Mom and Dad to us four children, but they were also Mom and Dad to many, opening their home to those that needed that role filled. 

   Mom tried to teach us to not be stubborn but to have strong principles, never sparing the rod. Through this she taught us to accept whatever life threw at us, help our neighbors, be a friend to everyone and above all to love God. Mom had a missionary heart and inspired everyone she came in contact with, leaving them feeling blessed.

   Mom loved her flowers, her books, and writing. She left us lots of inspiration with these writings, poems and songs.

   When Mom was diagnosed with cancer, she told the teary-eyed doctor, “God does not make mistakes.” She bravely fought her cancer to the end and left us with a clear testimony.  

   Mom is survived by her loving husband, Lonnie; her children, Matthew of Buhl; Monika of Castleford; Andres and Alisa of Potlatch; and Ben of Buhl; 14 grandchildren; sisters, Marge and Ken Conley of Halstead, Kansas; and Karen and Murray Wiebe of Willcox, Arizona; brothers, Milton and Lucy Schmidt of Willcox, Arizona; Clayton and Marilyn Schmidt of Buhl, Idaho; Glenn and Linda Schmidt of Willcox, Arizona; and Daniel and Ronda Schmidt of Willcox, Arizona; as well as lots of nieces and nephews, cousins and very special friends.

   Mom was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Susie Schmidt.