Mary Kathryn Lipsmeyer Schaad

MARY KATHRYN LIPSMEYER SCHAAD died Friday, July 13, 2012, in a Little Rock Hospice, following years of suffering from a crippling Rheumatoid Arthritis. She was 70 years old. Mary Kay (Rusty) was preceded in death by her parents Madge and Edward Lipsmeyer and a brother, George Robert Lipsmeyer. On graduating from Mount Saint Mary Academy in Little Rock, Mary Kay was awarded a scholarship to Saint Vincent's School of Nursing where she obtained her R.N. degree. After completing nursing studies, she worked in Pediatric Nursing at Saint Vincent's while teaching Basic Nursing Principles to incoming students. In 1963 Mary Kay left Little Rock to complete basic training in the United States Air Force. Her first assignment was at Griffiss Air Force Base Hospital in Rome, N.Y. Over her nursing career she worked in ER, OR, ICU and CCU units in various Veteran Administration hospitals in New York and Pennsylvania. When her medical condition made rigorous floor duty impossible, she held supervisory nursing positions in the Pittsburgh Veterans Administration Hospital. Mary Kay is survived by her children, Carl Schaad of State College, Pa., and Lisa Schaad Kaiser of Westerville, Ohio; sisters, Eleanor Lipsmeyer, M.D. of Little Rock, Elizabeth Lipsmeyer of Norfolk, Va., and Joan Frances Lipsmeyer of Harrison, Ark.; brothers, Charles Edward Lipsmeyer of Honesdale, Pa., Michael Joseph Lipsmeyer of Little Rock, and William Mark Lipsmeyer of Keller, Texas; grandchildren, Connor and Cassie Schaad, and Alison and Adam Kaiser; and numerous nephews and nieces. A rosary service will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday, July 15 in the chapel of Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth, 5800 W. 12th, Little Rock (501) 661-9111. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday, July 16 at the Cathedral of St. Andrew, 7th and Louisiana Streets, Little Rock with Msgr. John O'Donnell as celebrant. The family wishes to thank the physicians, nurses and staff at the central Arkansas VA Hospital and Hospice Home Care for their loving and compassionate care of Mary. In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be made to Hospice Home Care, 2200 S. Bowman, Little Rock, Ark. 72211, or to a charity of your choice. To sign the online guestbook, go to www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com.