2015
Sarah was an artist, writer and teacher
Seventy-nine-year-old Sarah E. Hotchkiss, a 30-year resident of the backwoods of Calhoun's Beech community, has died.
Hotchkiss was an artist, teacher, and community gardener, a longtime member of the former Calhoun-Gilmer Writers Group.
She specialized in original fiber art pieces which she created using a variety of techniques including embroidery and hand sewing, sharing her artistic talents with local schools and for the arts community.
At Heartwood in the Hills, she painted backdrops which were used in Heartwood performances and taught classes at Arnoldsburg Elementary School for children and adults in art and embroidery.
She collaborated on a multi-disciplinary summer program for children at Arnoldsburg Elementary School based on Mozart's The Magic Flute.
She founded the West Fork Garden Club and conceived and oversaw a beautification project to plant 10,000 daffodil bulbs at the Lower West Fork Park in Arnoldsburg.
More recently, she devoted many hours to planting and maintaining the flower beds outside the apartment building where she lived in Spencer the last three years of her life.
She delighted in sharing poetry, good food, and laughter with her family and friends. Up until her passing, she was active in the Spencer Meditation Group, Heartwood in the Hills, and the West Fork Garden Club.
She earned a degree from American University in Washington D.C. and served three years in the Armed Forces. She was stationed in Germany during part of her enlistment.
She was laid to rest on February 20, 2015 next to her beloved husband Ted on the land where they resided for more than 30 years in the Beech Community.
A memorial service celebrating Sarah's life is planned for some time in the spring.
The West Fork Garden Club will plant daffodils in her honor in the fall. Donations towards the purchase of daffodil bulbs may be sent to Mary Labaw at 592 Grannyshe Rd. Chloe, WV 25235.
See complete obituary Sarah E. Hotchkiss | 
