Person:Richard Schmitz (2)

Richard "Dick" Schmitz Tillamook Headlight Herald: Posted: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 12:00 am Richard "Dick" Schmitz passed away suddenly Feb. 27, 2009, in Gold Hill at age 79. Dick was born Feb. 2, 1930, to William "Bill" and Mary (Field) Schmitz in Oregon City and was raised in the area. He graduated from Molalla High School in 1948. In 1949, he married Donna Kay in Molalla. In the early 1950s, Dick and Donna moved to Tillamook. Dick became a logger, with his father as his partner, starting the company Bildix Logging and began logging in the Tillamook Burn.   After logging for many years, Dick started a new company, Tillamook Rock Products, which he owned for many years. Dick moved from Tillamook in the early 1970s. Several years later, he married Suzanne Bailey and lived in Sumpter. For many years, Dick and Suzanne owned the Elkhorn Saloon in Sumpter, where Dick was mayor for a few years.  Dick and Suzanne moved to Gold Hill last year to be near Suzanne's family. Dick was preceded in death by his father, Bill, in 1962; mother, Mary, in 1984; and brother, Bill, in 1997. He is survived by his wife ,Suzanne Schmitz of Medford; son Denis and Helen Schmitz of Tillamook; daughter Debra and Jerry Reeves of Tillamook; daughter Diann and Larry Nelson of Salem; and son David Schmitz of Salem. He is also survived by numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. At Dick's request, there were no services. He was buried next to his parents in Mountain View Cemetery in Oregon City. Headlight-Herald, April 29, 2009