Esther Lawless

Esther Marie (Fischer) Lawless, the daughter of Mary Theresa (Amthor) and Louis John Fischer, was born on January 7, 1912, in Cawker City, Kansas. She lived there three years with her sister, Ruby, and brothers, Floyd and Howard, before moving back to a farm outside of Mound City, Missouri. She attended elementary and high school at Mound City, graduating in May 1929. After graduation she worked at an insurance office in Mound City.

On January 25, 1933, Esther was united in marriage to James Russell Lawless in St. Joseph, Missouri. She met Russell through her brother, Floyd, who was married to Russell's sister, Mabel. They would often go on movie dates together. Russell and Esther lived and farmed all their married life in Atchison County, Missouri. Most of those years were spent on the family farm on "Route J". Three girls were born to this union; Beverly Joye, Donna Kay and Wanda Gail. Esther was a devoted mother and homemaker. She raised chickens, milked the cows and always had a large garden. She canned lots of vegetables and enjoyed baking pies, cinnamon rolls and angel food cake.

Esther was a longtime member of First Christian Church of Rock Port, Missouri. She liked visiting her neighbors and playing cards. Esther loved to sew and knit. She made many afghans and quilts for her children and grandchildren. After the death of her husband, Russell, on February 12, 1984, Esther continued to live on the family farm with her daughter, Joye, until October of 2003. She then moved to the Salem Lutheran Home at Elk Horn, Iowa, to be near her daughter, Wanda. She was content with her life there and enjoyed bingo, music programs and chapel, and especially looking forward to family visits. Esther died at the Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn, Iowa, on Tuesday, May 17, 2011, at the age of 99 years.

Besides her parents and husband, Russell, Esther was preceded in death by her daughter, Donna Kay Portis; sister, Ruby and her husband, Cecil Graham; brothers, Howard and wife Ruth Fischer and Floyd and wife, Mabel Fischer; brothers and sisters-in-law, Raymond and Buelah Lawless and Dick and Verna Schonemann, and great- great-grandson, Thomas Elijah Gabhart.

Survivors include her daughters, Joye Cohen of Lenexa, Kansas and Wanda Smith and her husband, Douglas, of Elk Horn, Iowa; four grandchildren, Kathy Gabhart and husband, Michael of Kansas City, Missouri, Kevin Cohen and wife, Julia, of Lenexa, Craig Smith of Elk Horn and Denise Obrecht and husband, Adam, of Urbandale, Iowa; eight great-grandchildren, Teresa Gabhart, Christopher Gabhart and wife, Roshonda, Caroline Gabhart, Tara Titsworth and husband, Josh, Natalie Holland and husband, David, Kelsey Cohen, Max Obrecht and Seth Obrecht; three great-great-grandchildren, Preston Titsworth, Gabriella Holland, Meria Rose Gabhart; and son-in-law, David Portis of Fairfax, Missouri.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 21, 2011, at 2:00 p.m. at the First Christian Church in Rockport, Missouri, with a visitation one hour prior to the service, also at the First Christian Church.

Burial will be n the Grange Hall Cemetery in Rockport, Missouri.

Memorials may be made to Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn, Iowa, or the First Christian Church in Rockport, Missouri.

Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home and Crematory in Atlantic, Iowa, is assisting the family with arrangements.