Kierstyn Kay Canter, 56, of Columbus, went to be with her Lord and Savior in heaven on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at the SOMC Hospice Center in Portsmouth with her devoted mother by her side.
Born on July 22, 1969, in Portsmouth, she was the daughter of Janis Elaine Lyon Waller of Portsmouth and Paul Michael (Teresa) Canter of Gallipolis. Kierstyn was the valedictorian of the Clay High School Class of 1987. While in high school, Kierstyn worked her “favorite job” at The Shake Shoppe in Rosemount. She attended The Ohio State University for two years, where she was active in Greek Sorority life, then returned to Portsmouth to work full-time for the Portsmouth Retail Merchants Association and attend Ohio University-Ironton full-time. She later transferred to Otterbein University, where she graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.
An auditor for the State of Ohio, she loved to travel with her work friends, Cindy, Lynn, Alan, and Michael, reading, attending concerts, spending time with her family, and then REST! Kierstyn was also a sports enthusiast, following the OSU Buckeyes and traveling to many championship games.
Kierstyn is also survived by a special sister, Jo Allison Ramsay of Morrow; her loving and nurturing stepfather of many years, Frank Waller of Lucasville; aunts and uncles, Sue and Daniel Hurley of Ft. Worth, TX, and Randy and Bonnie Canter of Portsmouth; cousins, Amy (Eric) Dorsey, Jon (Kerin) Hurley, and April Sanders; nieces, Blythe (Derek) Liesch and Bailey (Brian) Powell and their families; and her lifelong friend, Cynthia Beckett Duncan; and Rebecca Bill, who helped care for her until her passing
Preceding her in death were her maternal grandparents, Eugene and Carrie Lyon; paternal grandparents, Paul and Stella Canter; and an uncle, James Ray Lyon.
Graveside services will be held at 11 A.M. on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at Memorial Burial Park with Rev. Sallie Schisler officiating.
Friends may gather at the Ralph F. Scott Funeral Home in Portsmouth no later than 10:30 A.M. on Saturday to go in procession to the cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Cornerstone Methodist Church, 808 Offnere St., Portsmouth, OH 45662, the Shawnee State University Development Foundation at givetossu.com or 940-2nd St., Portsmouth, OH 45662, and SOMC Hospice, at somc.org or 2201-25th St., Portsmouth, OH 45662.
A very special thanks is extended to all who cared for Kierstyn at SOMC Hospice.
