Ester Pauline Burchett, 98, of Kirksville, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at Kirksville Manor Care Center. She was the daughter of Solomon Wesley and Ida Elizabeth (Rider) Pence. Ester was born March 31, 1918 in Gibbs, Missouri and lived her entire life in rural Adair County. Ester was united in marriage on June 20, 1936 to Roy Elmer Burchett who preceded her in death February 10, 2001. Roy and Ester worked their entire life in farming and Pioneer Hybrid seed corn sales. They were active 4-H club leaders for many years. Ester is remembered by friends and family for her needlework, crafts, baking, candy-making and love of games.
Ester was preceded in death by her husband, Roy; parents, Wes and Ida Pence; two sisters, Era Cloud and Maude Novinger; one brother, Joe Pence; two children, Ida Mae and Larry Leroy; and one grandson, Mark Banner. She is survived by Gail (Barbara) Burchett of Pueblo, Colorado, Kay (Ralph) Banner of Ormond Beach, Florida and Janet (Mike) Willman of Ormond Beach, Florida. She is also survived by grandchildren: Christopher Burchett (Susan) (Lewisville, Texas), Kevin Burchett (Tami) (Parker, Colorado), Curtis Burchett (Laurie) (Flower Mound, Texas), Kelly Burchett (Rachel) (Kirksville, Missouri), Heather Banner Kane (Mitch) (Noblesville, Indiana), John Banner (Lisa) (Pompano Beach, Florida) Matthew Banner (Austin, Texas), Michael Willman (Melissa) (Johns Creek, Georgia), Paul Willman (Dana) (Goldsboro, North Carolina) and Amy Willman Cairns (Brian) (Fort Collins, Colorado). She is also survived by 20 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Visitation will be at 2:00 PM, Saturday, March 11, 2017 with funeral services at 3:00 PM at Travis-Noe Funeral Home, 1008 Potter Avenue, Kirksville, Missouri (665-1300, travis-noe.com). Interment will follow the service at Parkview Memorial Gardens in Kirksville. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Chaplain Paul Milliken will be officiating.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in memory of Ester may be made by donations to Hospice of NE Missouri in Kirksville or charity of choice. Memorials may be left at or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, Missouri 63501.