Ray Schmitt and family will be interning Judy and her mother’s ashes together this weekend. I send my best wishes and look forward to working with Ray on his many future film projects.

They have become two of my best friends over the last few years. Luckily I visited them two years ago on the way out to the 2005 WV Library Assoc. convention in Shepherdstown. They spent a life together, raising two sons, creating a flood of great movies, sponsoring their own Oktoberfest, and in general showing a love of life unmatched in my experience. On Saturday PM Judy left this world and we will deeply miss her.

She had been in the hospital because of a blood clot in her leg. She got out of the hospital but somehow it moved to her heart and after spending several days last week in the hospital, and getting an infection, her heart stopped. Ray and their two sons were at their side. I will post info on the funeral in Mathias, Hardy County.

To learn more about her many films with Ray, visit Real Earth Productions.

I had to rent a special car to visit the Schmitts since I made a personal stop on the way from Charleston to Shepherdstown. I knew, given Ray’s own condition with Marfan Syndrome, that I had better seize the opportunity and pay the extra money for the car. I am so, so glad that I did.

Here is Ray’s e-mail telling his many friends about Judy’s funeral. This year’s WV Filmmakers Film Festival is dedicated to her memory. Kevin Carpenter, co-founder of the Sutton WVFFF and president of the film festival, traveled to Mathias, Hardy County to attend Judy’s funeral, representing all WV filmmakers who loved Judy.

Dear Friends, It is with heartfelt loss that I have to inform you of the passing of my dear and beloved wife Judy Lee who left us on Saturday, September 29, 2007.  She was my devoted wife of 43 years and the loving mother of our sons Raymond Richard and Christian Alexander.  Funeral arrangements are as follows: McKee Funeral HomeSR 55Baker, WV 26801(304) 897-7277 Visitation:  Wednesday, October 3 between 7:00 and 9:00 PMFuneral service at McKee Funeral Home:  Thursday, October 4 at 3:00 PM In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to: Crossing Creeks, Inc.

New
Market, VA
22844If you search this website, you will see that I have often written about Judy and Ray, two of WV’s most creative filmmakers and caring individuals.

A picture I took of Ray and Judy Schmitt in March 2004 in NYC in the Pioneer Theater before their showing of “The Abby Spirit.” Abby, who then lived near the theater, is in the middle. The picture on the right was taken by Ray when they visited Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg, WV during a program arranged by B.J. Gudmundsson.

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