Katherine Gutshall

*** At the request of the Gutshall family all services will proceed as scheduled***

Katherine “Karen” Hammer Gutshall, 78, of Mustoe, passed away Sunday, March 18, 2018 at Bath Community Hospital.

She was born September 18, 1939, a daughter of the late Jay and Sallie Kate (Rexrode) Hammer.

Karen was a 1957 Monterey High School graduate. On January 10, 1959 she married Roy M. Gutshall.

Karen loved being a wife, mother, grandmother and aunt. She was a member of Monterey United Methodist Church, the MUMC Kitchen Committee, Mountain View E-H Club, and was a 4-H All Star. She loved to quilt, cross stitch and paint ceramics. She loved the outdoors and enjoyed tending to her vegetable garden, fruit trees and strawberry patch, which turned into many enjoyable meals! You could often find her walking Dry Branch Road keeping the roadside clean and maintained!

Karen had a heart for people and loved caring for those in need. For many years, her card ministry brightened someone’s day! She sent thousands of cards to individuals in the hospitals and nursing homes! She blessed hundreds of new babies with a handmade quilted blanket and her friends and family with many of her handmade potholders and other handiwork.

Karen’s love of books overflowed to her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews as she religiously bought and read them! She was very thoughtful to write her and granddaddy’s name, date and a short note to remember the occasion on the inside cover of every gifted book!

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by an infant brother Randolph Hammer; sister-in-law Mary Belle Hammer; and niece Sherry H. Doody.

Surviving family members include her husband, Roy; son, Jay M. Gutshall of Richmond; three daughters, Angela G. Crigler and husband, Gary of Monterey, Pamela G. Hoffman and friend Mike Cary of Staunton and Karla G. Obaugh and husband, Kyle of McDowell; grandchildren, Amanda Crigler, Erica Ruleman, Matthew Hoffman, Karen Hoffman, Kate Sponaugle, Kari Lightner and Rhonda Obaugh; great-granddaughters, Allison, Ashley and Virginia Ruleman, and Kylee Lightner; brother, John “Ralph” Hammer of Monterey; nephew Dennis Kincaid of Monterey, nieces Carol Swecker, Susan Murray and Lisa Kodger all of Monterey; as well as numerous special nieces, nephews and cousins.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, March 22, 2018 at Monterey United Methodist Church with the Rev. Robert Haley officiating. Burial will follow in Hamilton Chapel Cemetery in the Big Valley community of Highland County.

The family will receive friends, 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at Obaugh Funeral Home.

Active pallbearers will be Matthew Hoffman, Chad Lightner, Matthew Sponaugle, William Ruleman, Jesse Swecker, Dan Doody, Charlie Bogan and Dareld Puffenbarger.

Honorary pallbearers will be classmates, friends and family in attendance.

The family suggest memorial contributions be made to the Monterey United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 382, Monterey, Va. 24465 or to a charity of choice.

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