Sarah (Sally) Colleen (VanHorn) Kearse age 90 of Lancaster, Missouri passed away on Friday, December 16, 2022. The daughter of LeGrande (Pat) and Nellie (Buzzard) VanHorn was born on February 17, 1932 in Bloomfield, Iowa. She was united in marriage to Clarence William Kearse on February 18, 1948 in Lancaster, Missouri. They were married for 60 years and to this union 7 children were born.
Sally is survived by Beverly Colleen (Kearse) Smyser and her husband, Payton Murl (Sonny) of Lancaster, Missouri; Ronald (Luke) Gale Kearse and his wife, Ann of Marshalltown, Iowa, Carol Jean (Jeanie) McLain and her husband, Dan of Glenwood, Missouri, Mary Sue (Susie) Tucker and her husband, Tim of Queen City, Missouri and Janet Elaine (Poopsie) Nichols of Lancaster, Missouri.
She has 14 grandchildren, Chris Smyser and wife, Danielle of Cordova, Illinois, Amy Smyser of Lancaster, Missouri, John Kearse and wife, Lindsay of Johnston, Iowa, Matthew Kearse and wife, Rachel of Chantilly, Virginia, Casey Byrd of Moulton, Iowa, Amanda Byrd of Kirksville, Missouri, Lindsay Minter and her significant other, Randal Illg of Newtown, Missouri, Holly Snider and husband, Cody of Queen City, Missouri, Madison Schneid and husband, Tommy of Navarre, Florida, Michelle Shabani and husband, Sela of Rodenbach, Germany, Jessica Sini and significant other, Benedikt Ernst of Rodenbach, Germany, Denver Nichols and significant other, Tonya Tucker of Lancaster, Missouri, Dillon Nichols and wife, Jenny of Austin, Texas and London Nichols and significant other, Cole Steen of Lancaster, Missouri.
She has 22 great grandchildren, Brooklyn and Mason Smyser, Gracie, Gabriella and Garrett Hamilton, Raelan and Gage Kearse, Stella and Olivia Kearse, Gannon Steggall, Eli Byrd, Remington Byrd, Raygen and Kennedy Vincent, Emira, Elina, Molan, Emilia Shabani, Shae Eruwayo, Leano Sini, Fabian Ernst, Jaxon Mikel Nichols, along with bonus children, Carla Pulliam, Dennis Small and Kim Daniels and many nieces and nephews.
Sally was preceded in death by her parents, Pat and Nellie VanHorn; a brother, Leo VanHorn; a sister, Violet Bailey; her husband, Clarence in 2008 and two sons, Dennis William Kearse in 2014 and William Gale (Bill) Kearse in 2016.
Sally attended Davis County Community School in Bloomfield, Iowa. She loved reading, gardening, playing cards and watching her Cardinals playing baseball. She was a loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was also one of the best cooks in Schuyler County.
She and Clarence spent their entire married life on the farm and in Lancaster, Missouri. She worked for the City of Lancaster as a Municipal Judge for 15 years and as a water clerk. She was a member of the Lancaster Methodist Church. Later as her health failed, she resided in the Schuyler County Nursing Home in Queen City, Missouri.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at the Norman Funeral Home in Lancaster, Missouri with Sonny Smyser, Pastor of the Schuyler County Church of Faith in Lancaster, Missouri officiating. Music will be special selections of “In The Garden” and “I’ve Got A Mansion on the Hilltop” sung by Cole Tippett. Pallbearers will be Chris Smyser, Casey Byrd, John Kearse, Matthew Kearse, Denver Nichols and Spencer Starrett. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 20, 2022 between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. at the Norman Funeral Home in Lancaster, Missouri. Memorials have been established for Arni Memorial Cemetery.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family by logging on to normanfh.com. Burial will be in the Arni Memorial Cemetery in Lancaster, Missouri.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Norman Funeral Home of Lancaster, Missouri.