Paul Allan Schmidt

Paul Allan Schmidt was born in Toledo, Ohio on October 26, 1957, and adopted as a baby by Paul S. and Elaine Kapp Schmidt of Cincinnati. He had one sister, Leslie, who had been adopted in 1954. When he was two years old the family moved to Moraga, California, where he was raised in the Presbyterian denomination. At the age of 22 he was led by a close friend to saving faith in Jesus Christ, he accepted Jesus as his personal Savior and was baptized. Paul attended Campolindo High School in Moraga, where he sang in the boys' chorus; he was a talented singer and musician, and as a teenager taught himself to play the guitar, bass, and drums. After graduating high school, he became a professional musician and recording engineer working in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 20 years. Paul met his wife, Karen Mathison of Shreveport, Louisiana, in 2003 in Bakersfield, California. They were married in 2004 at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport, and moved shortly afterward to Long Beach, California, where they lived for a year until they moved back to Shreveport in August, 2005. In 2015 Paul and Karen moved to a farm in the woodlands just north of Coushatta, Louisiana. Paul and Karen have been active members of Broadmoor Baptist Church together since 2005. Paul had a big heart for all kinds of animals, and he loved his four dogs and six cats, almost all of which were strays which he and Karen took into their family and gave a loving home. Paul loved Jesus, his church family, and attending worship services and small group Bible study whenever he was able. He also enjoyed being at home with wife and pets, singing and playing his guitars, improvising music, reading, and watching movies with Karen. In spite of being in pain much of the time, especially in later years, he was always optimistic, hopeful and faith-filled, with a fun and witty sense of humor, and will be greatly missed by family and friends. Early in the morning of September 4, 2021, Paul went home to be with his Lord. He was recovering in Green Meadow Haven nursing facility in Coushatta after a lengthy hospital stay to battle infections due to complications of diabetes, and in his sleep his blood pressure dropped and his heart stopped. The medical personnel immediately started CPR and tried to revive, but this time God called Paul home to be with Him. Paul was predeceased by his parents, Paul and Elaine Schmidt, and his father-in-law, Aron Luther Mathison. He leaves to remember him lovingly: his wife, Karen Mathison Schmidt; sister, Leslie Schmidt Reardon of Rumford, Maine; mother-in-law, Esther Marie Mathison of Shreveport, Louisiana; sister-in-law and husband, Pat and Kathy Nyberg of Long Beach, California; brother-in-law and wife, David and Chris Mathison of Hazel Green, Alabama; brother-in-law, Alan Mathison of Shreveport; sister-in-law and husband, Colonel Jim and Erin Coughlin of Bonaire, Georgia; and many beloved nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews. Paul Schmidt's memorial service will be held Thursday, September 16, at 11:00 a.m. in the Memorial Chapel of Broadmoor Baptist Church, 4110 Youree Drive, Shreveport, LA 71105. Officiating will be Dr. Chuck Pourciau. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to your local church or favorite charity.