Sterling Michele Gaskins Rudd, of Morehead, formerly of Goddard, departed this earthly world on Monday, December 9, 2024, at her home, after a courageous internal fight for life, at the age of 41.

Sterling was born November 20, 1983, in Lexington, and is the daughter of Sally Cox Taylor and Robert W. Taylor, Sr. of Wallingford.

In addition to her parents, she is survived by a daughter, Olivia H. Householder; a son, Oakley L. Rudd (Matthew Rudd); her fiancé, Joseph Willis; her Mamaw Patsy Stacy; four siblings; Robert West Taylor, Jr. (Hope Conrad), Audri J. Gaskins (Kevin Horn), Jarrod D. Taylor (Amber Ramey), and Andrew L. Taylor (Jade Spitler; a bonus sister, Jessica Maher Everman; many other extended family members; and numerous friends who knew and loved her.

Sterling was a U.S. Air Force Veteran. She was a 2002 graduate of Fleming County High School and received her certified medical assistant degree from Morehead State University. Sterling was a certified cardiology medical assistant for U.K. St. Claire HealthCare in Morehead.

She was an accomplished counselor to many at Edgewater Recovery of Morehead and was very active in the Recovery community in both Rowan and Fleming County, and beyond. She is known for showing up for people, Sponsoring, and providing invaluable support.

Sterling was a warrior-spirit, adventurous and unafraid of challenges, and enjoyed being physically active. She loved hiking, fishing, and appreciating time in nature. A gifted writer, she chronicled her reflections in journals. Sterling loved tattoos and piercings, and had many beautiful works, some tattoos shared with loved ones.

Sterling Michele was a true enigma who loved deeply, lived fiercely, and worked incredibly hard toward a life she wanted. A clever humorist with a romantic heart and gorgeous smile, Sterling will be remembered as she was - an intensely beautiful genuine original.

A celebration of life will be held 2 p.m. Friday, December 13, 2024, at Northcutt & Son Home for Funerals Memorial Chapel with Brother Aryn Meritt officiating.  Burial will follow in Goddard Cemetery.

Pallbearers:  Andrew Taylor, Kevin Horn, Matthew Rudd, Ryan Adams, Jeff Wilkinson, and Raymond Tucker.

Visitation will be from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, December 13, 2024, at Northcutt & Son Home for Funerals, 400 Fraley Drive, Morehead, KY 40351.

Memorial donations may be made to the Sterling Rudd Memorial Trust Fund at Peoples Bank of Kentucky, 106 S. Main Cross St., Flemingsburg, KY 41041. The funds will be used for her estate and children.

"I want to live the rest of my life, however long or short, with as much sweetness as I can decently manage, loving all the people I love, and doing as much as I can of the work I still have to do. I am going to write fire until it comes out my ears, my eyes, my noseholes—everywhere. Until it's every breath I breathe. I'm going to go out like a f*cking meteor!" - Audre Lorde, A Burst of Light