Julia (Smith) Kehrt, 83, of North Vernon passed away on Friday, June 8, 2018 at Columbus Regional Hospital in Columbus. Born at home on August 19, 1934, in Magoffin County, Kentucky, Julia was the daughter of Kelly and Rosy (Whitt) Smith of North Vernon. She was the previous wife of Bert Ritchie (survives), William Fields (deceased), and was the widow of James R Otte and Edward Kehrt.
She is survived by sons, Dale (Darlene) Fields of Edinburg, Matthew (Tonya) Ritchie of North Vernon, Albert (Patty) Ritchie of North Vernon, Mark (Dawn) Ritchie of North Vernon, and Tracy Ritchie of North Vernon; daughters, Margie Bowling of North Vernon, Donna Ritchie of North Vernon, Janice Collins of North Vernon, and Wanda (Daniel) White of Seymour; siblings, Bonnie Cardinal of North Vernon, Wonnie Arnold, of Florida, Frank Smith of Florida, Adam Smith of North Vernon, Viola Tyler of North Vernon; she has over 30 grandchildren; over 50 great-grandchildren and seven, great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Luke Nathaniel Ritchie; daughter, (Donna’s Twin) Mona Lou Ritchie; brothers, Ephraim Stanley, Ralph Smith, Lacy Smith, and Ollie Junior Smith; sisters, Jewell Wade and Mabelle Redick; grandson, Jeramiah Ritchie and granddaughter, Brianna. She worked for 35 years and retired from Muscatatuck State Hospital and worked at Walmart in North Vernon after she retired.
She was a member and treasurer of the Smiling Seniors, and a member of North Vernon Senior Center. She loved to volunteer and when she was able, and volunteered to help at the Senior Center and at the Democrat headquarters. She was a member of Tea Creek Baptist Church and loved going to church.
She loved the lord and would always encourage people to go to church. She enjoyed helping and volunteering at her church and would often buy flowers and deliver them when others were sick. Even when she wasn’t feeling her best, she worried for others when she couldn’t be there to help.
She was a dedicated mother and worked tirelessly to raise her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. If someone was in need, she would find a way to help them. Her family and friends were her life and she loved spending time with them.
She loved to go dancing, play cards, bingo and Mexican Train; loved and collected angels, clocks and butterflies and loved to garden and grow flowers. She was kind to everyone. If she had all the money in the world, she wouldn’t have it because she would give it to anyone who needed it.
She was an inspiration to anyone who knew her. She knew that she had a purpose on earth and it was to help others. If she were here, she would tell you that is the reward.
The funeral service will be at 12 p.m. (noon) Thursday, June 14, 2018, at Tea Creek Baptist Church in North Vernon. Family and Friends may call at the Dove-Sharp & Rudicel Funeral Home and Cremation Service on Wednesday, June 13, 2018, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and one hour prior to the service on Thursday at the church. Burial will be in the Tea Creek Baptist Cemetery.
Memorials may be made through the funeral home to the American Diabetes Association.
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