Doris Morhart

Hastings resident, Doris Winifred Sergeant Kovar Morhart, 105, passed away Sunday, October 27, 2013 at Mary Lanning Healthcare, Hastings, Nebraska.

A Memorial Service and celebration of her life will be Saturday, November 23, 2013; 11:00 A.M. at First Presbyterian Church, Hastings with Rev. Dr. William Nottage-Tacey officiating. Burial will be held at a later date in Juniata Cemetery, Juniata, Nebraska. Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, the Juniata Methodist Church, the Mabel Morhart Scholarship at Cottey College, or the Frank E. and Doris S. Morhart Scholarship at Hastings College. There will be no viewing or visitation.

Doris Winifred Sergeant Kovar Morhart, daughter of Nebraska pioneers Howard and Clara (Robertson) Sergeant, was born in Juniata, Nebraska on July 3, 1908. Doris' life was one of accomplishment, service, social and religious activity and family. Following graduation from Juniata High School as class valedictorian, Doris attended Hastings College and the University of Nebraska, Lincoln where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and was awarded Phi Beta Kappa. She was a high school teacher at Rising Star, Malcolm, Utica, and Juniata in a variety of subjects including Latin, English, music, math and history. In 1936 she married the Rev. Dr. Louis J. Kovar, who served as pastor of Presbyterian churches in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; Webb City and Hannibal, Missouri; St. Paul, Minnesota; and Port Arthur, Texas, where he died in 1961. She was called the perfect pastor's wife. In 1982, Doris married Frank E. Morhart, U.S. Army Ret. and relocated to Santa Rosa, California. In 1988, the Morharts returned to live in Hastings, the community they both loved. Doris was a 50 year member of the Hastings First Presbyterian Church and served on its Board of Deacons. She was the first woman to be elected an Elder in this congregation. In previous churches, she taught Sunday School classes, worked with youth and held local, presbyterial, synodical, and synod offices. She served several years as a member of the Adams County Y.W.C.A. Board, the Hastings Symphony Board, and the Community Concert Board, chairing its membership drive. She taught piano for more than 25 years and was the Hastings College Music Librarian for 10 years. Doris was a 71 year member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood and a charter member and first President of Chapter HT in Hastings. She was an inductee in the Hastings College Pro Rege Society. She was a member of Friends of the Hastings Public Library, the Fortnightly Study Club, the Women's Association at First Presbyterian Church, the Willa Cather Society, a Premiere Member of the Hastings Museum, and the Y.W.C.A., where she was honored as "Woman of the Year". Most recently Doris was a resident at the Kensington in Hastings where she celebrated her 104th birthday taking a hot air balloon ride. She loved to entertain, play bridge and other card games, work crosswords, do crafts and send greeting cards. She was a pianist, a composer, jingle writer, book reviewer, and poet. She was loved by and was very proud of her family. She leaves behind a host of friends and a legacy of faith and love.

Doris was preceded in death by an infant daughter; husbands, Louis J. Kovar and Frank E. Morhart; parents; brothers, Raymond, Clinton, Morris, Neal, Luther and John Sergeant; sisters, Ruth Buskirk, Lucy Sergeant and Helen McFerren. She was the last member of her generation in her family.

Survivors include:
Son & Daughter-in-law: Linn & Shirley Kovar - Coronado, CA
Daughter & Son-in-law: Mary (Kovar) & Tom Poshak - Kirkwood, MO
Grandchildren & Spouses: Julie & Bill Van Rossum - Wheaton, IL
Mark & Kara Poshak - Broomfield, CO
Great-Grandchildren: Kyle Van Rossum
Elizabeth Van Rossum
Blake Van Rossum
Miles Poshak
Step-Daughter: Judy Morhart Hudson - Santa Rosa, CA
Step-Son & Spouse: Jud & Judy Morhart - Los Alamos, NM
Step-Grandchildren: Jason Morhart
Amy Carper
Holly Williams
Step-Great-Grandchildren: Whitney Williams
Wilson Williams
Nieces, Nephews & Spouses: Jim & Verlene McFerren - Juniata, NE
Bonnie Sittner - Juniata, NE
Ken McFerren - Madison, WI
Don & Barbara Sergeant - Hastings, NE
Neal & Jan Sergeant - Lincoln, NE
Clarys & Marvin Boyle - Payson, AZ
Leona Faulk - KS
Leo Badura - KS
Virginia Crupper - KS
Ruth Bunsell - KS
Ray Kovar - KS
Oren Kovar - KS
Diane Dick - KS
Arnold Gideon - KS
Great-Nieces & Great-Nephews: 41