By Jim Misunas
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

LARNED — Fort Larned School District Superintendent Jon Flint said it’s been a tough week after losing an employee and the husband of a elementary school teacher this week.
Paraprofessional Abby Louise Trapp Prescott, 22, died Wednesday. Clay Steffen Schmidt, 52, the husband of Northside Elementary third-grade teacher Crystal Schmidt, died Tuesday.
“It’s sad. We’re a small school district and everyone is affected,” Flint said. “With a small district, we tend to do all our training and gatherings at the same time, so everyone knew the families. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and we all offer our support.”
Prescott was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma in July 2011. She had several surgeries and spent the past year battling the disease. She married Thomas Prescott in August 2011 and worked as a paraprofessional for the Fort Larned district. Melvina Prescott, her mother-in-law, also worked for the Fort Larned district at Phinney Elementary.
“There were times she was making progress,” Flint said. “When we saw Abby, she was in good spirits with a big smile. She was a battler.”
The daughter of Louis and Loretta Torrez Trapp was a 2008 graduate of Larned High School. She was football Homecoming queen and was named Outstanding Girl Athlete.
The funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday at the First United Methodist Church, Larned, with Pastor James Underwood presiding. Visitation is scheduled from 1-8 p.m. today with the family present from 6-8.
Clay Schmidt sold car parts for Carquest. His funeral was held Saturday. He leaves behind two sons and three brothers.