Paul Dempsey Schied

Paul Dempsey Schied, 35, of Tumwater, Wash., and formerly of La Grande, died in the early morning hours Nov. 18. Private family services were held. Mills & Mills Funeral Home in Tumwater was in charge of arrangements.

Paul was born Oct. 23, 1973. Originally from La Grande, Paul attended Ackerman Elementary School in 1979-1980 and 1983-1986. He later moved with his family to Harrisburg, where he graduated from high school in 1993. He eventually moved to the Olympia, Wash., area where much of his family, also originally from La Grande, now resides.

In late April 2008, the family learned that Paul had Burkett's Lymphoma, a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer. Through the many rounds and types of chemotherapy over the past six months, his family says that Paul remained positive and hopeful; he was an inspiration to all who knew him.

Despite the treatment that weakened and often left him ill, he worried most about the toll his battle with cancer was taking on his loved ones, especially his parents.

His sister, Tina, an oncology research nurse for Northwest Medical Specialties, was the rock for the family in her devotion to Paul and his medical care, never giving up on the search to find a cure for him and others battling similar illnesses.

The family recently gathered at the Oregon Coast in celebration of Paul's 35th birthday. Paul enjoyed the walks on the beach and participated in the laughter and fun while playing in the surf.

Paul leaves behind a large family including his parents, Larry and Kathye Schied of Olympia; grandmother, Doris Schied of Boise; brothers, Larry Schied and his wife, Melissa, of Lacey, Wash., and John Schied of Portland; sisters, Tina Schied of Olympia and Kim (Schied) Silverman and her husband, Adam, of Falls Church, Va.; several nieces and nephews; and an aunt. He was preceded in death by his granddad, Dempsey Furgason, and great-granddad, Alex Furgason, both formerly of La Grande.

Paul's sister, Tina, continues her work to find a cure, both in her professional life and in her private life and will take part in the Lavaman Triathalon to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Team in Training Program at http://pages.teamintraining.org/wa/lavatri09/tschied.

Donations will help accelerate finding a cure for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. More than 823,000 Americans are battling these blood cancers.

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