Amanta Ruth Rakestraw

Amanta Ruth (Schiller) Rakestraw, 79, died of pancreatic cancer on January 14, 2017 at her home in Topeka Kansas her daughter was at her side.

Amanta is survived by her daughter Connie Hall-Sutherland, of Ozawkie, Kansas, son Kevin T Hall of Colorado, sisters Diantha Watkins of Texas, Pam Martin and husband Michael Martin of Manhattan Kansas, grandsons Jason Harper, wife Aimee of Ozawkie Kansas, Trevor Hall of Liberty Missouri and Corey Sutherland of Kansas City, Missouri step grandchildren Gina Sutherland of Kansas City Missouri, Jaime Sutherland of Kansas City, Missouri, eleven great grandchildren and eight nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents Nevin and Emma (Moot) Schiller and granddaughter Chelby Sue Howerton.

Amanta was born on January 5, 1938 in Abilene, Kansas to parents Nevin and Emma (Moot) Schiller.

She graduated from Abilene High School in 1956. Received a certificate of Cosmotology in 1957. She moved to Topeka, Kansas and accepted a position as a printing operator at National Reserve Life Insurance where she worked for more than 25 years until moving to Kansas City Kansas and finished her career as a Printing Department Manager for Kansas City Life Insurance Company. She retired in 1999 after 39 years of loyal service.

Amanta was a loving mother, who cared about her kids deeply. She married Tommie Hall in August 1958 and the couple had two children together, Connie and Tommie. They later divorced and she remarried Dub Rakestraw May 1981 also divorcing after several years.

Amanta was a socially active woman who loved a good party in her day. She enjoyed gardening and helping friends with diy projects which she was very good at. In later year's she enjoyed going to the casinos for her entertainment. She loved her occasional margarita and her friends. Family and friends will always remember her as a very caring woman who had a big giving heart with a knack for fixing things and canning great pickles.

A "Celebration of Life" is scheduled for _Saturday on January 28, 2017 at the Garden House (Lake Shawnee) 3720 Yacht Circle at 1:00 pm. Balloon release will follow. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Amanta"s life.