Sarah & Zoey Padgett

Sarah Elizabeth Padgett, 41 and Zoey Elizabeth Padgett, 11 of Gaylord passed away Thursday, January 11, 2018 in an automobile accident in Detroit.

Sarah was born on November 8, 1976 in Belding, she was the daughter of Melvin and Rose (Babcock Gillette) Paepke. In 1995, she graduated from Greenville Senior High School. Upon graduation, she attended Grand Valley State University and took some nursing courses. On August 2, 1997 in Greenville she married the love of her life, Denny. Sarah was a stay at home mom while homeschooling her two children. She loved being with them, teaching and letting them experience new things on a daily basis. She and her family were active at Mount Hope Church in Gaylord and loved the Lord with all of her heart. Her personality would light up any room. She was very bubbly and happy person. She had a special gift to sing as she often did in church. She was an amazing wife, mother, sister, daughter and friend.

Zoey took after her Mommy with her personality shining through in recent years. She was a proud 6th grader and liked being homeschooled by her Mom and all the fun adventures she enjoyed with her brother, Andrew, and her mom. Zoey loved anything sparkly, fashion, playing with her dolls, cooking, ice skating and horseback riding. She was a defender of the “underdog”, adored her little brother Andrew, and also had a beautiful voice and loved to sing.

Sarah and Zoey are survived by their loving family that includes: Denny (Husband & Father); Andrew (Son & Brother); John and Rose Alice Paepke (parents & grandparents), John and Susanne Padgett (in-laws & grandparents), Darlene Gillette (parent & grandparent) Erma O’Rourke (Zoey’s paternal great-grandmother) Zoey’s sister & brothers Josephine, Jonathon, Dean and Andrew; Sarah’s sisters & brothers, Kimberly (Jerry) Burns, Roxanne (Wayne) Carroll, Gary (Stephanie) Gillette, John Paepke, Gale (Kimberly) Paepke, David (Kasha) Paepke, Christina (John) Scott, Kandi Paepke; many cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and special friends.

They were preceded in death by Sarah’s father, Melvin Gillette.

Visitation will take place from 6:00-8:00 PM Sunday, January 14th at Mount Hope Church, 1672 East M-32 in Gaylord.  Visitation will continue at the church Monday at 10:00 AM followed by a memorial service at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, those who wish are asked to make memorial contributions to Denny Padgett through Gaylord Community Funeral Home & Cremation Service, P.O. Box 249, Gaylord, MI 49734. The family has also established a Go Fund Me page, if that is more convenient. Please share your memories and personal messages with the family at www.gaylordfuneralhome.com