Kozette Lynn (Widder) Rushton, 61, died Sunday, Aug. 25, 2013 at her home in Novato, Calif., after a hard-fought, year-long battle with brain cancer.
She was born in Ephrata on Oct. 24, 1951, to Franklin and Gloria (Beck) Widder and was the wife of Albert E. Rushton. She was a graduate of Ephrata High School, class of 1969, and Millersville State College in 1973. She was a member of Marin Professional Women's Network.
In addition to her husband and parents, she is survived by two sons: Tyler, 26, and Will, 23; a brother: Franklin Widder of Ephrata, and his companion Dody Hart; a sister: Camille, wife of Stan Horine, of Lancaster; cousins, nieces, and many, many friends.
Since her late twenties after teaching elementary students on the Havasupai Indian Reservation located at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, she resided in the San Francisco Bay Area eventually settling in Novato, Calif. in Marin County.
Throughout her life, Kozette lived with gusto committing fully to whatever she pursued. As her boys grew up, she took the lead role in fundraising for sport booster clubs and co-produced their talent shows, always supporting not only family but local community as well. Combining her talent for teaching, her sense of humor and her voracious appetite to have fun, she became Kozy the Clown entertaining children and adults alike in a birthday-party venue. Kozette was very creative. After sewing clothing and costumes, dabbling in the craft of knitting and in the hobby of making art glass, she eventually fulfilled herself artistically with watercolor and acrylic painting. She joined an adult tap dancing troupe and again found her true self performing and entertaining. Kozette was also a Premier Design's jeweler representing a high-fashion jewelry line in a home-party arena where she continued to give abundantly and encourage others.
Everyone who knew Kozette will remember her for her big, bright smile, the sound of her laughter, her exuberant, contagious spirit, her welcoming nature to reach out and make others feel included, and her kind, generous, grateful heart.
Memorial services will be held at St Edward's Episcopal Church, 2453 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster, PA 17601 on Sept. 20 at 7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to Lancaster Farmland Trust, 125 Lancaster Avenue, Strasburg, PA 17579.