Dora Esther Estes

Dora Esther Estes of Branson West formerly of Cuba was born Wednesday, March 10, 1925 at Union County, Illinois to the union of Harry Oliver and Della Esther (nee: Boyce) Gunter and left from this life on Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at Wedgewood Gardens in Branson West, Missouri at the age of 87 years. Dora started nursing school in 1942 at the Missouri Baptist Nursing School in St. Louis where she was a member of the Cadet Nurse Corp. WWII ended before Dora graduated, but she would have proudly served her country as a nurse. In 1946 Dora met Clouse Winfred "Win" Estes and on April 19, 1947 in St. Louis they were united in marriage. They were the proud parents of Fred and Linda. Dora worked as a Registered Nurse for over 40 years. She worked as the Public Health Nurse at Scott County Health Department in Benton, Missouri and other area hospitals before returning to school and earning a B.S. in Nursing at the age of fifty-three years. After obtaining her degree she became the clinical instructor in the nursing department at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Missouri and then became the nursing administrator at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. She ended her nursing career at the V.A. Hospital in Poplar Bluff, Missouri retiring in March of 1987. Dora enjoyed crocheting afghans, reading and going to church but spending time with her family was always most important to her. Dora was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother "Nana", great Nana, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, aunt, great aunt, great-great aunt and friend of everyone she ever met. Dora is preceded in death by her husband Win Estes, parents Harry and Della Gunter, four brothers; Charles, Earl, Paul and Lewis "Skeets" Gunter, sisters-in-law Bonnie and Marge Gunter and brother-in-law Art Saxe. Those who are left to treasure her memory and to continue her legacy are her loving children Fred and wife Kaye Estes of Sikeston, Missouri and Linda and husband Paul Lathum of Branson West, Missouri, daughter-in-law Vicki Estes of Sikeston, Missouri, grandchildren Stacey and husband Chris Barbre of Ballwin, Missouri, Julie and husband Barry Parsons of Ballwin, Missouri, Tim Lathum of St. Charles, Missouri, Beverley and husband Bo Jenkins of Sikeston, Missouri, Barbara, Rhonda and David Estes, many great grandchildren, sister Marge Saxe of Mira Loma, California, brothers Donnie Gunter of Highland, Illinois and Bill and wife Nancy Gunter of Tarpon Springs, Florida, sisters-in-law Ruth Gunter of Belleville, Illinois and Theresa Gunter of Chesterfield, Missouri, nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, great-great nieces, great-great nephews and a host of other relatives and friends. A memorial visitation will be held Saturday, February 9, 2013 from 10:30 until 11:30 AM at the Manchester United Methodist Church, 129 Woods Mill Road, Manchester, Missouri, with a memorial service following at 11:30 AM with Pastors Paul Lathum and Beth Elders officiating. Special music will be "Just A Closer Walk with Thee", "In The Garden" and "Going Home". Memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice Compassus, 3044 Shepherd of the Hills Expy, Ste. 200. Branson, MO 65616 in Dora's memory. A private internment will be held at the Garden of Memories, Sikeston, Missouri. The Mizell Funeral Home is honored to be serving Dora's family.

Visitation Details

Saturday, February 9th, 2013 10:30am - 11:30am, Manchester United Methodist Church

Service Information

Saturday, February 9th, 2013 11:30am, Manchester United Methodist Church