Frances Schmett

Frances Schmett passed from this life, Thursday, December 21, 2023 at her home in American Falls, Idaho. 

Fran was born December 23, 1937, in American Falls, Idaho to Daniel Webster Abbott and Letta Iola Barton.  The family lived in Hegler, Idaho and Wyoming, but in time moved back to Idaho.  Happy to be back where they belonged for they loved and appreciated the familiar mountains, beautiful streams and their Idaho family.

In 1961 Fran married Bob Schmett.  To this union she brought two sons, Eddie Duane and Bruce Lane.  The boys were adopted and to this union was added a beautiful baby sister, Robyn Lynn. 

They resided in American Falls and Bob worked for the El Paso Gas Company.  This employment took the family to Moab, Utah for a time.   Upon returning to Idaho, Fran enjoyed raising her children and seeing that they had opportunities to enjoy those things that she loved—fishing hunting and camping.  Being a part of the great outdoors was an important part of her life.  During hunting season, she and Bob spend many hours hunting for game.  She had a great eye for spotting the deer clear across the valley and they were always successful when it came to bagging their game.  

Fran worked as a waitress and cook while raising her family and worked many years at the Simplot Potato Plant in Aberdeen, Idaho.   Upon retirement, she and her husband spent their winters in the Arizona desert, hiking, four wheeling and enjoying the warm weather. 

After her husband of nearly 60 years passed away, her daughter, Robyn moved in with her and cared for her faithfully.  Robyn saw to her every need and upon her passing remarked that it was her blessing to have had the privilege of caring for her “sugar.”

Preceded in death was her sons, Eddie Duane and Bruce Lane Schmett, a grandson, Bobby Lee Schmett, a sister, Virginia Rea Wood, 3 brothers, Donald Nelson Abbott, Robert Duane Abbott and Charles Irven Thomas and her parents.  She is survived by her daughter, Robyn Lynn of American Falls, a brother, Leland LaVerne Thomas of Kingman, Arizona, a daughter-in-law, Diana Schmett and a granddaughter, Kimberly Schmett of Portland, Oregon, grandsons, Mike and Andrew Payne of Japan and Boise, Idaho, two sister-in-laws, Joann Babbitt and Janice May of Nampa and Kuna, Idaho. 

 The body was cremated and the ashes will be placed in the Valley View Cemetery in Rockland at a later date.

A special expression of gratitude for the kind individuals who assisted in caring for Fran the last few months of her life:  Colette, Lety, Robyn Schmidtgall and Symbeii of Hospice.