Annis Faye Lepper

Annis Faye Lepper died at 5:44 a.m. Thursday, January 23, 2014, at Blanchard Valley Health System Hospital in Findlay.

She was born January 18, 1947, in Fork Ridge, Tenn., the daughter of the late Clyde and Roxie Hammitte.

Survivors include a daughter, Kim Sturgeon; two sons, Paul (Linda) Lepper and John “JP” Lepper; Brady Sturgeon, who was like a son to her; eight grandchildren, Zachary Sturgeon, Shaun Sturgeon, Dillin Sturgeon, Anthony Lepper, Rachel Lepper, Alexis Lepper, Alex Lepper, and Bryan White; one great-grandchild, Brady Allen Sturgeon; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Her husband, Paul N. Lepper; and two sisters, Jerlene Adkins and Charlene Shepherd, also preceded her in death.

Faye had been a painter at the Lima Army Tank Plant and was presently employed at The Marsh Foundation as a family teacher and foster care provider. Faye was a warm, caring, generous, selfless person who always put others’ needs above her own. She put those wonderful qualities to use in 1996 when she left the Tank Plant to become a foster care provider for the SAFY organization. She continued her career as a foster care provider by joining the Marsh Foundation organization in Van Wert in 2000. She originally joined the staff of one of the Marsh’s group homes as a family teacher, but soon after began running the independent living program at the Marsh, which has the goal of providing children in her care with the tools they needed to become responsible and successful.

Faye treated and cared for each and every child as if they were her own, all the while being there for her own children and grandchildren whenever they needed anything … anything at all. She was a generous woman who worked tirelessly to make sure that the needs of each and every person she cared for were met. She was always purchasing furniture, clothing, housewares, even groceries, for the foster children, as well as her own family members in need, many times anticipating their needs before they even thought to ask for assistance.

She stayed in touch with the children formerly in her care, even after they became adults living out on their own. While taking care of her own foster children, Faye also provided respite care for other foster parents when they needed temporary assistance.

Faye touched the lives of many and will be sorely missed by her family, the children and staff at The Marsh Foundation and many throughout the community.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday, February 10, at Trinity Friends Church in Van Wert, with Pastor Stephen Savage officiating. A luncheon reception will be held for family and friends following services in the Marsh Foundation School cafeteria.

There will be no calling hours.

Preferred memorials: Marsh Foundation.

Arrangements were handled by Brickner Funeral Home in Van Wert.

Online condolences may be left at www.bricknerfuneralhome.com or emailed to bricknerfuneralhome@bright.net.