It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our wonderful mother, Dorothy R. Amburgey, 98, on Monday, March 2, 2026. Although our hearts are heavy because of her absence, we believe and rejoice that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
Born Dec. 30, 1927, in Cincinnati, Ohio, she was the daughter of the late George Sr. and Nannie Frances Riessinger. Although she didn’t quite make it to 100, she finished the race and left a legacy and example for her family and all who knew her to follow. She was a proud graduate of the Mt. Sterling High School class of 1945. She was one of three remaining living classmates and now passes the torch to Russell Fitzpatrick and Bernadine Markland. She married the love of her life, Otis Amburgey on March 12, 1947. Although they missed celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary by just two days due to our father’s tragic death, she was just as committed to him for the last 38 years of her life. Not only were our parents marriage partners, but they were also business partners with our father’s brother, Omer, and his wife, Mary Amburgey. They operated the family businesses of Amburgey Farm Supply and Amburgey Farm Machinery. For almost 40 years our mother oversaw the accounts payable for the business and made sure each employee was paid every Friday evening. She was a very meticulous and successful bookkeeper. After the farm supply business closed she found great joy in being a volunteer. Some of the organizations she volunteered for were the Mt. Sterling City Council (finishing our dad’s term as council member), hospital auxiliary, American Legion post 22 auxiliary, Warm Up Montgomery County and Salvation Army. She also served for most of her adult life at True Life Community Church of the Nazarene. For 60 years she sacrificially served as pianist for the church and was still a faithful and loyal member after her eyesight and hearing forced her to step down.
Survivors include a brother-in-law, Bobby Amburgey and wife, Donna; sister-in-law, Janice Meyer and husband, Ken.; her favorite daughter, Beverly Kendall and husband, Dale; her favorite son, Arthur “Artie” Otis Amburgey Jr. and wife, Lysandra; five grandchildren, Todd Kendall and wife, Jennifer, Brian Kendall and wife, Beth, Patrick Kendall, Alexandra Roland and husband, Chris and Arthur “Art” Otis Amburgey III and wife, Courtney; 12 great-grandchildren, Caroline Kendall, Rece Kendall, Henry Kendall, Nolan Kendall and wife, Savannah, Halli Kendall, Paisley Kendall, Hunter Roland, Hadlee Roland, Hayes Roland, Ellie Rose Amburgey, Willow Kay Amburgey and Marlee Marie Amburgey; and numerous nieces, nephews and many who referred to her as “Grandma.”
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death a brother, George Riessinger; sister, Patricia Corey and husband, Robert; husband, Arthur Otis Amburgey Sr.; and brothers/sisters-in-law, Lorene Amburgey, Lonnie and Venus Amburgey, Omer and Mary Amburgey, JB and Fannie Amburgey Estes, Floyd and Irene Amburgey Lawson, Gerald and Dorothy Amburgey Greenwade.
Service was conducted Saturday, March 7, at Herald and Stewart Home for Funerals with Pastor Paula Smith and Pastor John Kohr officiating. Burial was in Machpelah Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Todd Kendall, Brian Kendall, Patrick Kendall, Artie Amburgey, Art Amburgey and Chris Roland.
Honorary pallbearers were Mike Amburgey, Jeff Amburgey, Kenny Amburgey, Ricky Amburgey, Danny Estes, Gary Lawson, Robin Meyer, Jerry Dean Meyer, Robbie Amburgey, Mike Corey and David Corey.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made in honor of our mother to True Life Community Church of the Nazarene, P.O. Box 843, Mt. Sterling, Ky., 40353.
Funeral services entrusted to the care of Herald and Stewart Home for Funerals.
