Marilyn Bell Schmitz

On Friday the 24th of February 2017, Marilyn B. Schmitz, a thirty-three year resident of Palm Desert, passed away. She was eighty-six. Known throughout her life as "Minow," her parents, Lynn and Marie Taylor, moved to Laguna Beach in 1927. Marilyn was born in the "art colony" in July 1930. She was a graduate of Laguna Beach High School and was instrumental in getting the annual June seniors graduation ceremony moved from the on-campus auditorium to the Irvine Bowl, home of the Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters, where the event is still held.

She attended Fullerton College where she met Jim Schmitz of Anaheim, and after a two-year courtship, they married and settled in Laguna Beach. Jim founded Beach Construction Company and was its president until his retirement in 1985. They had four children---Susan, Mary, Denny and Doug. During "the kids" school years, the Schmitz home was the center of activity where teammates and friends would spontaneously converge for meals, games, swimming pool gatherings and conversations with Minow.

After Jim and Marilyn moved to the Oasis Country Club in 1984, Marilyn began taking golf lessons. A natural athlete, she mastered the game and became active in the Woman's Golf Group, serving for a time as its president.

She is survived by her husband of sixty-six years, Jim, and her children Susan of Plano, Texas; Mary of Newport Beach; Denny of Kihei, Hawaii; and Doug of Carmel-by-the-Sea and Lake Oswego, Oregon, and their spouses and children. In addition, she is survived by her brother-in-law Jerry Schmitz of Rancho Mirage and his children; and sister-in-law Shirley Rush of Laguna Beach and her children.

A Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, 2 March at 2:00 pm at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Palm Desert, Fr. Howard Lincoln officiating. Burial will be at Pacific View in Corona del Mar (Newport Beach) on Friday, 3 March