Librada "Libby" Navarro Zarate Amador

Librada "Libby" Navarro Zarate Amador
March 1927 - September 2021
Libby Navarro was born in March of 1927 to Silveria (Sylvia) Campos and Refugio Ramon Navarro in Riga, Michigan. The family moved to Fostoria, Ohio and lived there several years before moving to Adrian, MI, where her father was to build and pastor the first Hispanic Protestant church in Lenawee County in 1946.  With the help of Pearl Glaser and the donation of the property by Mr. Albert Reyes, Sr., Libby helped her father, Rev. Navarro, when the Iglesia Bautista Cristiana was being organized.  After the church was built and had several members, she became the youth leader as well, and also taught Sunday School.  Her father, Reverend Navarro, also taught Libby to drive the family car so she could help bring people that needed transportation to go to the church.  Libby continued to be very active in the Ladies' Missionary group and church activities and enjoyed crocheting and making craft items for family and friends and for church fund raisers. Her and Naomi Soto were prayer partners and visited the sick in homes and in the hospitals. That same church, which is now Croswell Family Worship Center, will be celebrating their 75th anniversary in October of this year.  She met her future husband, Juan Caballero Zarate at church and had four children that survive her. Linda Zarate Stephens (Dennis), Ruth Zarate Jimenez (Rafael), Thomas R. Zarate (Connie), all from Adrian and Sylvia Zarate from Racine, Wisconsin and all their families. Libby later divorced and married Alfredo Amador and gained a bonus daughter, Frances Amador and her family, who also survive her.  Also surviving her are her sister, Antonia Maria Elena Strum and family from Maryland. Along with many beloved grandchildren and their families, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren, and many beloved cousins and adopted family members.  In later years, in her late 80's & 90's when unable to drive, she started her ministry of sending cards and letters along with her Bible verses that she called 'Golden Nuggets' to anyone who needed them. Even in her elder years, she took on the challenge of social media technology and began to text friends and family as well.  Always knowing the importance of staying connected, Libby shared her faith continually and prayed with people on the phone and in person when they came to visit her. Libby also remembered to keep them in prayer during her morning devotional time of prayer and reflection, where she called out their names to her faithful God and Father and to Jesus Christ, her beloved Savior.  Libby helped in whatever capacity she was needed throughout her life and was a faithful and devoted believer in Jesus Christ her Savior from the age of 12 years.  She has left us with a legacy & example of love and faith that will continue to impact many throughout our lifetimes.  Now she is face to face with the One she has served faithfully, and is resting from her labors as she is welcomed into the eternal loving arms of God into her reward. "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."  Funeral Services will be held 2:00 PM Saturday, October 2, 2021, at J. Gilbert Purse Funeral Home, 2959 N. Adrian Hwy, Adrian, MI, with Pastor Henry Burciaga officiating.  Viewing & Visitation will be held on Friday October 1, 2021, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the J. Gilbert Purse Funeral Home, Adrian, MI.  www.PurseFuneralHome.com

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