Carolyn (Schmith) Daniels

Carolyn Daniels passed peacefully after a lengthy battle with Dementia/Alzheimer’s on March 29, 2026 at Sunrise Retirement Community. She spent her final days listening to jazz and Broadway Showtunes. She leaves behind a legacy woven from love, laughter, and care.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026, at Faith United Presbyterian Church, 4327 Morningside Ave., Sioux City, IA. 51106. Visitation with the family will begin at 10:00 A.M. The service will begin at 11:00 A.M. and a luncheon and fellowship will continue after the service. Graveside services will be at a later date.

Carolyn was born to Dean and Marian (McMaster) Daniels on September 24, 1941, in Tuscola, IL. At the age of 5 the family moved from Illinois to Sioux City, IA.

Carolyn graduated from Sioux City East High School in 1959. She started college at the University of Colorado in Boulder CO. in 1959 and continued her studies at the University of South Dakota in 1960, where she was a member of the Chi Omega Sorority.

Carolyn and Marian traveled extensively in Europe during 1961 with return passage to the US aboard the Queen Elizabeth. Carolyn resumed classes at Morningside College in 1961.

She married Charles Schmith on Dec 21st of 1961 and continued to take education classes at Morningside College. A son (Michael Dean) was born to the couple on July 11, 1963. Carolyn graduated from Morningside in the spring of ’64. Upon graduation she served as the librarian for the St. Joe School of Nursing and then as a history teacher at Whiting Iowa Community Schools. She received her Masters Degree in Educational Psychology and Guidance from USD in 1965.

A second son (Charles Mark) was born on March 10,1968. Carolyn began her Guidance Counselor career with the Sioux City Schools in the fall of 1969. She and Chuck were divorced in 1977.

Guidance Counseling was a job that became a life-long passion for Carolyn. She worked in the buildings of Hoover, North High, and East High throughout her career. She was the head counselor for many years at North High. She made many lifelong friendships with her peers that continued until her death. Carolyn was a champion for the student and many past students would (and still) tell her sons about how Carolyn had helped them in their school career. She recognized that teen mothers were dropping out of school and not returning to get their diploma or GED. She helped implement a pilot program to keep these girls involved in the school by creating such things as an in-school daycare so the mother could attend regular classes. In addition, she also oversaw the Student Council for many years. She was an advocate for all students no matter their status.

Carolyn’s faith was very important to her with her being deeply involved at Morningside Presbyterian Church (now Faith United Presbyterian) serving as an Elder, a Deacon and serving on many committees. Her work was recognized as she was presented the Presbyterian Woman of the Year. Her work with kids was also recognized when she was nominated in the inaugural class of “Women of Excellence” in Sioux City Iowa.

Carolyn was a huge hockey fan and relished watching her boys and grandson play. Broadway Musicals were very important to her and she made numerous trips with her special friends to New York for shows and to attend New Years Eve in Times Square, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and even took her niece, Ellen to New York for the day to catch a show and dinner at Katz’s Deli.

Carolyn had a zest for life, a great sense of humor, a quick one liner, and occasionally a sharp tongue – she could be a force. She enjoyed retirement by conducting hat shows, joining book clubs, swimming in her pool, coffee at Panera, and time at Okoboji. Family was the most important thing to Carolyn followed closely by all of her friends.

Left in the wake of her passing are her dog Katie, her brother John and his wife Mary; her son Mike, his wife Donaline and their kids Dan, Rachel, Brooklynn, and Emmalee; her son Mark, his wife Angie and their kids Taylor, Kelsey, and Nicholas and nine great-grandchildren. Additionally, she leaves behind many cousins, nieces, nephews and special friends from throughout the years.

She was preceded in death by her father, mother, sister (Deanna), and niece (Ellen Osborn) and her Westie, Lilly.

The family asks those who wish to express sympathy consider a donation to the Siouxland Humane Society.

The family would also like to recognize the “angels with the hidden wings” at Sunrise. They took mom in and made her one of their family. We can’t count the number of staff members who would peak in on her in her last couple days to say how much they enjoyed her and how she made them laugh. We are forever indebted to these caring, loving, patient people!