Vashti G. Seybert

Vashti Seybert, age 94 passed away Sunday morning, November 15, 2015, at the Meade District Hospital, Meade.

Vashti Seybert was the youngest of eight children of John and Grace Painter. She lived the first five years of her life in a sod house, later she and her brother Tom rode horseback three miles across pastures to their one-room school house. After graduating from Meade High School, she attended Dodge City Junior College, where she met the lover of her life, Roy Seybert. They were married on the Painter Ranch in 1942, shortly before Roy went into the US Army to serve in WWII.

As the mother of four children, Vi was patient and kind, and always (outwardly, at least) very calm, with a dry sense of humor. She was the backbone of her family. She encouraged her children to try new things, to be frugal, and yet reach for the best.

Vi worked alongside her husband in farming. They raised alfalfa, wheat, turkeys, cattle, horses, and even sheep and hogs briefly. She wanted her children to be hard workers and responsible citizens; to that end, for many years she was a 4-H leader, Sunday school teacher, and Bible School teacher. She loved music, and enjoyed singing in the church choir and in other local singing groups.

Family was very important to her, and she gave of her energies to care for an aunt, both of her parents, and Roy’s parents in their final years.

She served as the Meade Public Librarian for 11 years, during which time she oversaw the introduction of the Dewey Decimal System. Later, she worked as a crop reporter and took the US Census.

After selling their farm ground, Roy and Vi started Aunt Vi’s Kitchen; a company that produced sand hill plum jelly.

In the last years of her dear husband’s life, Vashti patiently and tirelessly care for Roy. They celebrated 73 years of marriage, still a loving partnership.

Vashti was preceded in death by her parents and all of her brothers and sisters: Edith, Bill,Gwendolyn, Fred, Frieda, and Tom (J.T.). Glenn, Alice, (Tom Montemurro), Ross (Suzan), and Charles (Julie), her proud and loving children survive her, as well as, five grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

Her steely, yet loving approach to life is a model for all of those who knew her.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, November 23, 2015, at the First Baptist Church, Meade. Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. until service time at the church with the family receiving friends at this time. Private family inurnment will be in the Graceland Cemetery, Meade, at a later date.

The family would welcome memorials to the First Baptist Church in care of the funeral home.

Personal condolences may be given to the family at www.fidlerormebachmanmortuary.com