Roberta Joan McKay Kyker

Roberta Joan McKay Kyker of Julian, NC went home to be with the Lord on Friday, July 20, 2012. Born on August 17, 1935 in Polo, IL. Roberta grew up with the dream of serving people in their time of need and fulfilled that dream in a career of nursing which spanned half-a-century. She graduated from the Swedish Hospital Nursing School as a registered nurse. She married Dennis Kyker from Jonesboro, TN on September 8, 1956. They moved to Tennessee, where she began her passionate work of caring for the sick. Later the Kykers moved to North Carolina and settled in Greensboro where Roberta continued her love for nursing as an operating room nurse at Moses Cone and High Point Regional Hospitals. Roberta was known to help neighbors, friends, and anyone in need with her skills of compassionate care. After retiring from the operating room her last phase of 52 years of nursing was in geriatric care working in several long-term care facilities in the Triad area.

Roberta is preceded in death by her parents, Gertrude and step-father Fred Holby and two brothers, Chuck Holby and Jimmy Mckay. Survived by her husband of 56 years, Dennis Kyker, and children, Carl (Cindy) Kyker of Woodstock, GA, Charles (Julie) Kyker of Hickory, NC, Cindy (Carl) Johnson of Greensboro, NC, Jacob Kyker of Hayesville, NC, Cathy Wood of Julian, NC, and Clay (Cheri)Kyker of Pleasant Garden, NC, twelve grandchildren, and two great grandchildren, and a sister Shelby Jean(Richard) Hose of Polo, IL.

Roberta is a faithful follower of Jesus Christ and a member of Tabernacle United Methodist Church where she loved teaching and ministering to children and youth serving for many years as a children’s choir director and Sunday School teacher. A celebration of her life will take place at Tabernacle UMC on Tuesday, July 24, 2012 beginning with visitation from 5:30 to 7:00 pm and a service giving glory to God for her life and witness at 7:00 p.m. Pallbearers will be James Womble, Brian Coley, Tony Webster, Richard Rumble, Doug Caviness, and Justin Wills. Please share your thoughts and memories with the family at www.LoflinFH.com. Loflin Funeral Home of Liberty, NC has the honor of serving the Kyker Family. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Salvation Army, or the Christ UMC Ghana Medical Mission Team, 416 Zion Church Road, Hickory, NC 28602.