Sara C. Kerstetter

 Sara C. (Blythe) Kerstetter 81, passed on to heaven April 30, 2014 at Kansas Christian Home. Born January 2, 1933 to Cephas and Lottie May Blythe near Wilsey, Kansas, Sara grew up with 2 sisters and 5 brothers. She met Ray Kerstetter in a roller skating rink in 1946 and they married on June 11, 1950 in a small country church called Pleasant Ridge near Alta Vista, KS.

Sara and Ray attended Manhattan Christian College in Manhattan, KS where Sara worked in the college kitchen. She spent her life as a pastor’s wife. She enjoyed helping Ray at the Christian Hills Church Camp near Eureka, KS. Sara loved singing in the church choirs, music, ceramics and her family, especially the little children.

Sara owned her own ceramic business for a period of time. She cooked for many years at a Eureka nursing home before Ray retired from the ministry. Sara and Ray enjoyed being “snowbirds”. They spent winters in South Texas near Rock Port where Sara collected sea shells from the beach.

Sara was a member of the First Christian Church, Newton KS.

Sara is survived by her husband, Ray of Newton; their 3 children and spouses, Daniel (Glenda) Kerstetter, Leon, KS; Terri (Riley) Carrier, Tarpon Springs, FL; Timothy (Lynda) Kerstetter, Augusta, KS; daughter-in-law, Carol Kerstetter, Independence, KS ; 13 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. Surviving siblings include Elaine Blanton, Alma, KS; Andrew Blythe, Council Grove, KS; Robert Blythe, Grove, OK; Audrey Wheling, Longmont, CO; Donald Blythe, Winchester, KY; and Cecil Blythe, Thornton, CO. She is preceded in death by her son, Bruce Kerstetter; granddaughter, Lynnette DaPron; brother, Bill Blythe and her parents.

Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Monday, May 5, 2014 at First Christian Church in Newton with The Reverend Gary Bell presiding.  Visitation will be 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Petersen Funeral Home with the family receiving friends from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery Newton.

Memorials are suggested to Alzheimer’s Association in care of Petersen Funeral Home.