Tootie, Lavern Doering Schmidt, of East Peoria, IL passed away peacefully, on Friday, December 31, 2021 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, IL.

Born on May 25, 1928 in East Peoria, IL to George G. and Pauline Stahl Doering, she married her best friend and loving husband of 59 years, Charles E. Schmidt, Jr. on April 11, 1953 in East Peoria. He preceded her in death on May 29, 2012.  She was also preceded in death by her parents, brothers, William and Delmar, sister Eleanor Boundy, brother-in-law, Richard R. Brown, 2 nieces, Glenda Tice and Dorene Bell, and nephew, Robert Hall.

Born and raised in East Peoria, she had a fondness for the city. She attended Roosevelt Grade School and Central Junior High School and was an active member of the East Peoria Community High School Class of 1945.  She graduated from Bradley University in 1949 and started the Speech Correction classes in all 8 East Peoria elementary schools, retiring in 1960 to become a homemaker.  She and her husband traveled extensively, and she became an avid Hummel collector.  She and Charlie were also faithful Bradley Basketball fans since 1954.

A member of the First United Methodist Church in East Peoria since 1943, she served on many committees and she and Charlie served as communion stewards for 59 years.  She had the ability to make everyone feel special by her card sending, with the "Love and Blessings" closure.

She is survived by sister, Jay Doering Brown, of West Bloomfield, MI, brother, Dr. George G. (Janine Lawrence) Doering of Dublin, CA, nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews, 2 great-grandnephews and an expectant great -grandniece, all of whom she loved dearly.

Love of God, family and friends was the focus of her life and she will be remembered as a wonderful wife, sister, aunt, and friend. "LOVE and BLESSINGS"

A celebration of Tootie's life will be at 11 am Friday, January 7, 2022 at First United Methodist Church in East Peoria.  Rev. Krista Price will officiate.  Visitation will be from 10-11 am Friday at the church.  Burial will be in Fondulac Cemetery in East Peoria.  Deiters Funeral Home and Crematory in Washington is assisting the family with arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to her church. Tootie's memorial website is available at www.deitersfuneralhome.com where condolences may also be sent to her family.