Sarajane Sandusky Aber passed away on Saturday, June 18, 2011, at the York Nursing Center at Bishop Spencer Place. She was born in Kansas City, Mo., on July 28, 1923, the daughter of Clara Winslow Sandusky and James Lamar Sandusky. She attended the Sanford B. Ladd School and Central High School. She continued her studies for two years at the recently established Kansas City University, and then transferred to the University of Kansas at Lawrence, Kansas, where she received her BA degree in 1944. Following this, she was employed as a commercial artist at the Western Auto Co. and the Vendo Co. On Feb. 18, 1951, Sarajane married R. Kenneth Aber. After living at Fort Riley, Kan., for a year and a half, where Kenneth was on active duty on the faculty of the Army Intelligence School, they returned to Kansas City. For many following years, Sarajane's primary interest was raising their family of three sons, encouraging and facilitating their formal education through college and university years. However, Sarajane also soon became involved in church and community activities, some of which continued for the rest of her life. Sarajane was a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church of Kansas City, her attendance there having begun in the Cradle Roll. She taught Sunday school classes, helped with summer camp sessions, and served on many boards and committees. She was President of the Woman's Society and she was a Life Deacon. While her sons were still in grade school, Sarajane began 50 years of volunteer service at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. She first helped in the Children's Library at the Museum, but then went through the extensive training to be a Docent. She continued as a Docent for 31 years, retiring at the end of 2009. During the 1980s, Sarajane resumed her formal education. She enrolled in graduate courses for several years, and in 1988 she received her Masters degree in Art History from the University of Missouri-KC. Her thesis was "An Architectural History of the Liberty Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri: 1918-1935." Because of her extensive knowledge of the Liberty Memorial and her interest in preserving it, she was elected as a trustee of the Liberty Memorial Association, and later as a member of the President's Council of the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial. While a student at UMKC, Sarajane was president of the UMKC Women's Council during the 1984-1985 term. She was a board member of the UMKC Friends of the Library as well. A long-term major interest for Sarajane, as it was for her mother, has been the Kansas City Rose Society. She as served as president and for the past 25 years has been chairman of the Rose Garden Committee. This committee works with the Parks & Recreation Department to determine the plantings made in the Laura Conyers Smith Municipal Rose Garden in Loose Park and is responsible for ordering the roses which are all provided by the Kansas City Rose Society. Sarajane has been a member of the Society of Fellows at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the Elizabeth Benton Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Society of Architectural Historians, the 40 Years Ago Column club, and a Charter Member of the National Museum of the Women in the Arts. Sarajane is survived by her loving husband of more than 60 years, R. Kenneth Aber, of the home; sons, James S. Aber (Susan) of Emporia, Kan., Robert K. Aber, Jr. of Blue Springs, Mo., and Thomas C. Aber (Beth) of Kansas City; grandsons, Jeremy W. Aber (Amy) of Manhattan, Kan., Jay T. Aber of Overland Park, Kan.; and granddaughter, Zoe C. Aber of Kansas City. There will be a family burial service at 11 a.m. Friday, June 24, at Forest Hill Cemetery with a memorial service to follow at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Kansas City, 100 West Red Bridge Road. There will be a reception at the church after the service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the First Baptist Church of Kansas City or to the Kansas City Rose Society, 5200 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, MO 64112. Fond memories and condolences for the family may be left at www.dwnewcomers.com Arr.: D.W. Newcomer's Sons Stine & McClure Chapel, 3235 Gillham Plaza, KCMO 64109 (816) 931-7777. D

Published in Kansas City Star on June 22, 2011