Phyllis A. Schmidt, 65, Hays, formerly of Kansas City, Missouri, died Wednesday, October 29, 2009, at the Rooks County Medical Center in Plainville.

She was born April 5, 1944, in Hays to Felix and Angela (Beilman) Schmidt. She graduated from Girls Catholic High School, obtained a B.A. in German from Fort Hays State University; a Master's of Library Science degree from Emporia State University; and a Master's of Educational Administration degree from Fort Hays State University.

She served as Assistant Director for Public Services and head of Interlibrary Loan at Fort Hays State University from 1988-96; as a Reference Librarian at Montana State University from 1997-99; as Assistant Librarian for Serials and Interlibrary Loan at New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas, New Mexico, from 1999-2001; and as a Reference Specialist at the University of Missouri-Kansas City from 2001-2009.

She was a member of the Kansas Library Association and the American Library Association and, during her time in this area; she was an active member of the Volga German Society and a longtime member of the St. Catherine Church choir. She was a devoted, generous and selfless sister, aunt and friend who always looked out for people she cared about. She loved gazing at the night sky, especially the sky over the family farm, and she loved animals of all kinds and had looked forward to their companionship during her retirement.

Survivors include four sisters, Sr. Judith Schmidt, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin; Pamela Shaffer and husband Warren, Hays; Marla Staab and husband Dennis, Catherine; Donna Schmidt and husband Duane Coyle, Wichita; and sister-in-law, Doris Schmidt, Victoria; six nephews, Troy Schmidt and wife Vicki, Salina; Terry Schmidt and wife Kelly, Hays; Travis Schmidt and wife Holly, Kenosha, Wisconsin; Zachary Shaffer, Tempe, Arizona; B.J. Staab and wife Tracy, Kearny, Missouri; and Adam Staab, Hays; two nieces, Katie Holecek and husband Brian, Shawnee; and Leah Shaffer and husband Cooper Priess, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Thomas A. Schmidt, and a nephew, Todd Schmidt.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m., Monday, November 2, 2009, at the St. Catherine Catholic Church in Catherine. Burial will be in the St. Catherine Cemetery. There will be a Sisters of St. Agnes Prayer Service at 4:30 p.m. and a parish vigil service at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 20th and Pine.

Friends may call at the funeral home on Sunday from 2 until 8 p.m. and on Monday from 9:00 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. At the family's request, the casket will remain closed.

Memorials are suggested for Masses, to the Humane Society of the High Plains, or the St. Catherine Charitable Fund, in care of the funeral home.