SCHMITZ, Christine Calvin
died November 11, 2016 in Spokane, Washington at the age of 74 after a brief journey with cancer. Christine was born in Lubbock, Texas, raised in Mexicali, Baja California and graduated from Calexico High School and the University of Arizona. A resident of Tucson since 1959, she made a temporary move to Spokane for medical treatment and to be closer to family. She is preceded in death by her former husband, Dr. Donald Schmitz, DDS (d 2008), and whom she married in 1963. She is survived by her children, Dr. Miguel (Jennifer) Spokane, WA; Kish (Paul) Pisani, Naperville, IL and John (Stephanie), Golden, CO. All four children are graduates of Salpointe. She's "Nana" to Amanda, Thomas and Sarah Schmitz, Danielle and Louis Pisani, Mojo Schmitz and Hannah Christine and Jake Schmitz. She is survived by her brother, Dr. Travis H. Calvin of El Centro, Calif., sister, Linda Calvin of Thousand Oaks, Calif., and nieces and nephews in California, Wisconsin and Illinois. She is also preceded in death by her parents, Travis and Marguerite Calvin. An interior designer and adjunct faculty member at Pima Community College, Christine was active in the American Society of Interior Designers and participated in several design show houses in Tucson and in various leadership roles with the ASID. Christine was a woman of adventure and style and could transition from shooting a rattlesnake to throwing a dinner party in the same day. She was proud of her children and grandchildren and their academics, sports activities and careers, and she was always on the sidelines or organizing a team gathering. She was an early member of the Salpointe PEACE Club (aka Parent's Association). The Schmitz children wish to thank Cancer Care Northwest and Hospice House Spokane. Christine's cremains will be buried with her parents on her birthday, Tuesday, December 27, 2016, at Evergreen Cemetery in El Centro at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the DuPage Valley Special Athletes Scholarship Fund, an organization benefiting athletes with special needs (dvspecialathletes.org) started by her daughter's family.