Annis Faye Lepper

Annis Faye Lepper died at 5:44 AM Thursday, January 23, 2014 at Blanchard Valley Health System Hospital in Findlay, Ohio. She was born January 18, 1947 in Fork Ridge TN the daughter of Clyde & Roxie Hammitte who are both deceased.

She is survived by a daughter, Kim Sturgeon. Sons: Paul (Linda) Lepper, John "JP" Lepper and Brady Sturgeon-who was like a son to her. Grandchildren: Zachary Sturgeon, Shaun Sturgeon, Dillin Sturgeon, Anthony Lepper, Rachel Lepper, Alexis Lepper, Alex Lepper, Bryan White. Great-Grandchild: Brady Allen Sturgeon. She is also survived by many aunts, uncles and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul N. Lepper, and sisters, Jerlene Adkins and Charlene Shepherd.

She had been a spray painter at the Lima Army Tank Plant and presently was 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 Lima Army 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 Organization of Van Wert, Ohio in the year 2000. Originally she joined the staff of one of the group homes at the Marsh Foundation as a family teacher. Soon after she began running the independent living program at the foundation; the goal was to provide the children in her care with the tools they needed to become responsible, successful, independent adults once they left the foster care system and went out on their own.

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 about 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 held at 2:00 PM on Monday, February 10, 2014 at Trinity Friends Church in Van Wert with Pastor Stephen Savage officiating. Following the service there will be a luncheon reception for family and friends at the Marsh Foundation School Cafeteria. The family desires memorial contributions be directed to the Marsh Foundation.