Thank you to everyone who has shown love and support during this time. The service today was so much more than we could have hoped for. For those of yall that could not attend the following is an excerpt of the tribute.

Don Schmidt, 53, of Bixby, OK, peacefully passed away in his home on October 6th, 2023. Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on May 21st, 1970, to David and Imogean Schmidt, Don was a quiet and deep-thinking child. His mother and sister fondly remember a time when Don was young and experienced his first snow day at school. Despite them telling him that school was cancelled due to the weather, he still insisted they take him just so he could be sure. He was very dedicated to his education and even got accepted into MIT, along with numerous other universities, but he was NEVER one to share that side of himself because he didn’t want to “brag”.

After graduating in 1988 from Daniel Webster High School, Don joined the U.S. Navy as an Electrical Operator. Fondly referred to as “Skeletor” by his squadron, Don was a vital member on board the USS NEWPORT NEWS. He was known to have exceptional professional abilities, initiative, and a loyal devotion that contributed significantly to the ships superior performance. His commander noted that Dons duty reflected greatly upon himself and the United States Naval Service.

Once he completed his 6 years of service, Don came home to Tulsa and in 2000 met Callie, who had two children, Kyra and Sean. He immediately was captivated by the strong young single mother who had already battled many hardships of her own. Their romance was cultivated through distance due to Don working in another state at the time, but this didn’t deter him from convincing Callie that he was ready to jump two feet in. He would regularly send her flowers and they would write letters. Callie would go as far as sending him letters and pictures of Kyra and Sean and reminding him of just what it meant to be in a serious relationship with her. She tried to push him away thinking that he didn’t know what he was getting into. Don, however, admitted that this only made him want them more and his casual pursuit turned into outright stalking according to him. Eventually he was able to prove to Callie that he was not only in love with her but her children as well and she realized that she was in love with him too. After a whirlwind romance they got married February 23rd, 2001.

He went on to adopt Kyra and Sean as his own and had two more children, Hailey and Dillon. Kyra says the day Sean and her were adopted was one of the best moments of her life, although she was young, she understood the gravity of his commitment and was so proud to have his name. She went to school and immediately wrote her new name on all her stuff which got her in trouble with the teacher, but her new dad was quick to set that teacher straight. She looks back with gratitude for having had a father who chose to love her as his own, never making her feel like he wasn’t her true dad. He would even joke around with her about being there for “changing diapers” because to them it genuinely felt like he was there from the very beginning, and he might as well have been. He truly filled that role of father so fully, leaving no gaps in her heart. Sean, as a new father himself now, truly understands the sacrifices Don made to step so fully into that role of father. Sean is so deeply grateful for having a father that guided him in life like Don had, he is Seans hero, he looks to his father as a role model. Dons tips and lessons taught will leave a legacy and continue to guide Sean as a father and how he raises his own family.

Don always put family first and was a dedicated father before anything else. He built, from the ground up, a beautiful home in Nixa, Missouri, where he raised his family. He put his blood sweat and tears into building that home.... literally.... and I don’t mean just a smashed thumb here and there. While putting up a beautiful big back porch on the second story, the entire deck fell from the house with him on it and he almost broke his ankle. Don was not a quitter though, so he finished the house... well... finished about everything but the back deck because knew when to count his losses and move on.

In 2008, Don and Callie decided to take a new opportunity and move their family to Frisco, TX. There he dedicated his free time to coaching Sean’s, Hailey’s, and Dillon's baseball and softball teams, taking great pride in sharing his love of the sport with his children. Hiley fondly remembers what it was like to grow up with her father as her coach. After seeing Dons passion for the St. Louis Cardinals, Hailey decided very early that was something she wanted to share with him. She holds close the memories of them sitting together and watching the Cards play, going on a special trip to see a game just the two of them. She treasures those days, not because she loved baseball, but because she loved spending that time with him... and because she could steal bites out of his bowl of peanuts he always ate while watching. Don took great joy in things like baseball and lived to share those passions with his family.

In 2017 Don moved his family back to Oklahoma where they settled in Bixby. This move back to his home state also re-sparked his passion for classic cars. He enjoyed spending time with his youngest, Dillon, rebuilding the car of his youth, a 1972 Pontiac. Don and Dillion spent hours on end in the garage bonding over engine building. Dillion will forever remember the time his father asked him to start the engine while he was leaning into the hood. As he revved the engine Don had a fire ball explode straight into his face. When he looked up all Dillon saw was the smoke of his burnt eyebrows in soft swirls coming off his face. They thought they could keep this little mishap between just the two of them, but the jig was up as soon as they walked in with uncontrollable looks of shame. Callie and Hailey noticed straight away that he had not one eyebrow hair left, and his eyelashes were snow white. Don sharing his passion with Dillion, rebuilding that engine, is what sparked Dillons newfound career as an aircraft mechanic.

Don was a strong, loving, and supportive father who considered his family his greatest accomplishment. His knowledge and guidance were the foundation of his family, he always had a quick witted but wise response that always seemed to solve the problem or calm the nerves. You can ask any of his family for a “Donism” and they will have plenty of fun ones to share with you. These things are what Dons family hold onto as they remember him and move through life. Finding acceptance and peace is an important part of grieving. As Dons family moves through this loss, they reflect on how they are finding their own peace. Kyra reminds herself to be grateful, to focus on what a beautiful and successful life her father made and how he found his peace because he knew he was leaving his family as a strong tight knit unit, he was confident they were going to lead beautiful lives themselves. Hailey finds her comfort in remembering those little moments shared, the jokes and laughs and special looks passed between just the two of them, how he loved his family so completely, and she will forever have his love with her as she moves through life. For Dillon, he is comforted in knowing he will always have the memories and the support of his father to guide him into adulthood. Sean takes peace in knowing that he carries his father's legacy and that although he will miss his dad's smile and hearing “well well well look who it is” every time he comes home, he knows this isn't a goodbye but until next time.

I will be editing the site to add more home videos and photos as well as photos from the service as well. Thank you everyone for the continued outpouring of love and support, I know my father is looking down with so much joy and gratitude.