Esther Marie Kurtz, 59, of Sweet Home passed away Tuesday. She was the youngest of 11 children born to Chris and Clara Gingerich at home in Plain City. Both Esther and her husband of 41 years, Delbert M. Kurtz, were raised in the Amish Church and were currently attending Cornerstone Fellowship in Sweet Home, Oregon.

Esther was survived by: her husband, Delbert; her children, Tony, Dawnita, Benjy, Almanzo, and Hanz; and her grandchildren, Ryan, Clara, Justin, Maslin, Marissa, Wesley, Brandon, Katie, Josie, Elias, Christopher, and Emmanuel. She was preceeded in death by her son, Christopher Keith Kurtz.

Delbert and Esther lived in Ohio until they moved to Oregon with their five children in 1989.

Esther’s hobbies included: spending time with her children and grandchildren; gardening; reading on her porch; raising chickens; quilting; and landscape painting. Anyone stopping by could always count on fresh baked goods from her kitchen. She always joked about her dream of someday having her own horse and buggy to drive to town to get groceries as she did as a child.

Viewing will be held from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., Sunday, December 11, 2011 at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel. Funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m., Monday, December 12, 2011 at Community Chapel in Sweet Home.

Arrangements are under the direction of Sweet Home Funeral Chapel.