Sara Kramer

She was born August 3, 1940 in Gadsden, AL where she was raised on a cotton farm. She was one of 9 children who were taught at a very early age how to hitch a team of mules to a plow and to plow a straight furrow. She talked of getting up at the crack of dawn with a biscuit in their pockets and working until noon. They shook DDT with flour sacks onto the cotton, to kill the bugs; never wearing protective masks or clothing. She worked hard and helped take care of her family by working at the Sand Dime while attending beauty school. After she finished beauty school she became an instructor at Keivel & Ed’s Beauty School and also had her own clients.

July 2, 1960 Kenneth Kramer was set up to have a blind date with his Sergeants (Army) wife’s relative. What a first date; Sara’s dad met them at the door with a shotgun because her sister had eloped that night and he wanted to know “your intentions”. She said “if he was brave enough to come back, she would see him again.” She took the Greyhound bus from Alabama to Washington on a chance, but the story the kids were told was “mom married me for running water, indoor plumbing, and to get out of the south, I got a 5 year promise ad whoever asks for the divorce has to take the kids.”

Sara worked at the Fiber Paper Mill in Longview, WA from 1961-1962. She was a CNA at a nursing home in Colfax, a waitress at Allens, Jays and Wheat -N- Barley in Colfax, WA all in 1981-1985. Most of all she worked with children. She advocated for education – with the school, against the school, or she took them out of school and home schooled.

She had grandchildren that lived close in proximity, but that did not change the way she loved or disciplined. She said what she meant and she meant what she said. With 11 children, spouses, significant others, ex-spouses (we like them – we keep them), grandchildren, and great grandchildren from Ken & Sara down there are 79 of us strong.

She was a mom to many more: she made treats for classroom parties, (kids in school for 45 years) treats for athletes, for the booster club, she was a brownie/ girl scout leader; she made costumes for kids, prom dresses, bridesmaids dresses for 3 weddings, 2 wedding dresses, took in numerous foster children and took on the foster care system.

She raised her children to be confident, strong, hardworking, honest, and trust in God.

Preceded in death: Parents D.C. and Mildred Wagnon Burger, sisters Jane Fambrough, Sue Sewell, Gail Burnett and grandson Noah Lichtefield.

Surviving is her husband of 56 years, Kenneth; David (Brenda) Hussey of Virginia; Beth (Vergil) Daughtery of North Carolina; Dixie Nelson of Washington; Jackie (Craig) Wines of Washington; Sharon (ben) Miller of Washington; Kristy (Jason) Lichtefeld Of Kentucky; Kim Kramer of Washington; Melanie Kramer of Washington; Daniel Kramer of Washington; Michael (Stephanie) Kramer of Washington; Jake Kramer of Washington. She is also survived by 34 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.

Sara was a mom to many a friend to few. She had such a big heart that gave out way to soon. She was strong willed and believed in right and wrong and insisted her children live by those standards and raised in church. She is missed, loved, and cherished by so many.

A “Celebration of Life” is planned for summer of 2018.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Steptoe Community Church” Or “The Thrifty Grandmothers” in Colfax, WA.