Lois Estes parted this life, strong in faith and thankful for 99 years of life, on All Saints Day, November 1, 2023, at Cedarhurst Assisted Living in Topeka, Kansas.
She was a long-time resident of Atchison, Kansas, and for the past decade had lived in St. Joseph, Missouri. Lois was born on March 4, 1924, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Erwin H. and Ruth (Pennekamp) Marting. She graduated from Grover Cleveland High School and received her BSBA from Washington University in St. Louis. After graduation, she was employed at the university as an assistant to the bursar, managing tuition accounts for veterans studying under the G.I. Bill of Rights.
On Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 1949, Lois married C.J. Estes, of Atchison, at Messiah Lutheran Church in St. Louis. They resided in Atchison, where they raised their five children, and operated the family-owned Atchison County Auction Company. Lois served as treasurer of that corporation as well as of Estes Ranch and CJE, Inc.Her lifelong passion for numbers dated back to her youth when she regularly served as the treasurer for clubs she joined. Lois later went on to be a census taker, the treasurer of the Mount Vernon Cemetery Association, and a poll worker.
She was active in the Junior Guild and several bridge clubs. As a pastime, she recently mastered as many as a dozen varieties of Sudoku. Lois was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Atchison where she was an active supporter of its elementary school, serving as PTA president and school board member. As a volunteer, for over thirty years she managed the school lunch payments, frequently collecting money directly from the students herself.In retirement Lois and C.J. enjoyed traveling, often visiting livestock auctions along their route. After his death, her children and grandchildren accompanied her on many memorable cruises.
A devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she delighted in family gatherings and never missed sending a birthday card or remembering her loved ones’ special occasions. Her legacy reminds her survivors to live a life filled with faith, love, and acts of service.
Lois was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Richard Marting; and daughter, Barbara (Tom) Miller. S
he is survived by son David, San Antonio, Texas; daughters Ann (Pat Sundeen) Glendale, Arizona.; Kathy (Ed) Thomason, Topeka; and Joan (Rod) Bellows, Overland Park, Kansas; eight grandchildren, and fourteen great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, November 9, 2023, at Trinity Lutheran Church with Rev. Marty Reed officiating. Burial will follow in the Sunset Memory Gardens, Atchison. The family will receive friends at the church from 10:00 am until the time of service. Memorial contributions in memory of Lois can be made to Trinity Lutheran School Endowment and may be sent in care of the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home which is entrusted with the arrangements.
