Delores J. Estes

Delores Jean Estes, 88, of Cape Girardeau, Missouri passed away Sunday, January 29th, 2017 at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. She was born December 04, 1928 in Cape Girardeau, MO to the late Dewey and Emma (Kirchhoff) Reynolds. She and Gary Estes started a 64 year long journey together on March 7, 1953 when they were married at the Southeast Missouri State College Baptist Student Union in Cape. They met while students at SEMO and were married after graduating in 1952, while Gary was serving in the USAF at Hamilton AF base in San Rafael, CA. After completing his initial enlistment in 1955 Gary and Delores started the next phase of their life back in Cape followed by 10 years in Sikeston, MO where Delores taught English at Sikeston and Scott County Central High Schools. Gary’s job as an insurance adjuster would take them to the Virgin Islands, San Juan, PR, Memphis, TN, Columbia, MO and St Louis before retiring in 1989 and returning to Cape where they have lived since. Along their journey Delores completed coursework and earned a Masters in Education from the University of Missouri - Columbia and taught English or worked as a librarian in local high schools at each of their stops. She finished a 25 year teaching career at Fox Senior High School in Arnold, MO in 1989. In retirement Delores was an active member of Hobbs Chapel and the Cape Girardeau Senior Center. She and Gary spent many enjoyable retirement years traveling in Europe and RVing throughout Missouri, Virginia, Florida and Texas with Delores’ brother Howard (and Helen) Reynolds and her older sister, Margie (and Ray) Waldrup. The three couples frequently migrated south to Texas and Florida for the winter spending time playing cards, sight-seeing, listening to music and just enjoying life. Delores is survived by her loving husband, Gary Estes of Cape Girardeau, her sister Margie Waldrup of Cape Girardeau, four nephews: Lonnie (and Donna) Waldrup of Scott City, MO; Scott (and Beth) Reynolds, Sikeston, MO; Doug (and Kay) Reynolds of Nashville, TN; Randy (and Janet) Reynolds of Nashua, NH; and Great Nephew, Sam (and Jennifer) Reynolds of Memphis, TN. In addition to her immediate family, Delores is survived and loved by her extended Kirchhoff family. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother Howard Reynolds. Friends may call 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Thursday, 2 Feb at Ford & Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel in Cape Girardeau. Funeral service will be at 10:00 AM Friday, February 03, 2017 at the funeral home with the Rev. Stan Hargis officiating. Burial will be at Cape County Memorial Park Mausoleum in Cape Girardeau. In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions may be given to the Cape Girardeau Senior Center.

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Delores J. Estes

December 4, 1928 - January 29, 2017