Kathryn Mae Hart

January 21, 1929 - June 8, 2020

Kathryn Mae Hart, age 91, of Huntington, died at 7:40 a.m. Monday, June 8, 2020 at Timbercrest Senior Living Community in North Manchester. Kathryn was born on January 21, 1929 in Huntington, the daughter of Harry and Clella (Haecker) Schenkel. She married Lewis S. Hart on December 24, 1946 in Huntington; he preceded her in death on December 14, 2005. Kathryn and her husband owned motels from 1966-1981, beginning with the City Manor Hotel in Michigan City. They later owned both Hart and Broadmoor Motels in Marion, retiring in 1981. She was a member of Manchester Church of the Brethren. Kathryn always loved family reunions: they were one of the highlights for her growing up and through her married life. She continued that love by hosting many family reunions while living in Florida and North Carolina during retirement years. Kathryn loved taking family photos. She always had a camera in hand to capture every moment to be preserved in the many photo albums she made over the years. She was very sentimental and loved to reminisce about good memories of all the people in her life. It meant a lot to her to take family drives and see all the places where she used to live, thinking about the memories made over the years. This always brought a smile to her face, a smile is what she would be wearing most any day. She also loved to laugh and had a great sense of humor, just like her husband. They had many beautiful years together and were certainly “two peas in a pod.” Kathryn will be missed by friends and family. She was a treasure to all who knew her. She will remain this way as she lives on in the lives of the grandchildren, and their generations, after her. A very heartfelt thank you to Timbercrest Senior Care in North Manchester, IN for the compassionate care they gave her and her husband over the years. Kathryn and Lewis chose to be there especially, as they knew they would be in great hands. They most certainly were! Surviving in Florida are sisters Donna (Joe) Katynsky of Wewahitchka and Joann (Richard) Deemer of Bradenton. Also surviving are many siblings, cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws, grandchildren Lisa (Tobias) Ensele of Carson, Washington, Melissa (Travis) Reynolds of Sandy Lake, Pennsylvania, Janelle (Matt Watts) Hart of Pensacola, Florida, Cory Salyer of Kalamazoo, Michigan, Derek (Crystal) Salyer of North Point, Florida, Sean (Aryana) Salyer of Fortuna, California, and Michelle Hart of West Lafayette, Indiana, and great grandchildren Lindsey (Justin) Hart-Smith of Jonesboro, Arkansas, Major and Veronica Hart of Cabot, Arkansas, Nicholas Ensele of Carson, Washington, Farren and Quinn Reynolds of Sandy Lake, Pennsylvania, Lily and London Hart of Pensacola, Florida, Alexa Hart of West Lafayette, Ashley Salyer of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Brett, Erin, and Rachael Salyer of North Point, Florida. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, a daughter, Kathy Salyer, sons Larry Hart and Richard W. Hart, brothers Harry J. Schenkel and Lewis Bigelow, sisters Evelyn Jean Schenkel and Carolyn Hart, a granddaughter, Jennifer Lee, and a grandson, Kevin Hart. There will be a small family gathering to celebrate Kathryn’s life in Lancaster Cemetery in Huntington County at a later date.