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HOME > SURNAMES > ESTES > BOOK: DESC THOS ESTES > Ernest Emory Estes 1899-1967 |
Ernest Emory Estes 1899-1967Ernest Emory Estes received only an eighth grade education. He was always affiliated with and active in a local community church. His political affiliation was Republican. He was cautious and careful in personal economy, always avoiding debt. He enjoyed listening to baseball on the radio and followed the series games. He never made more than a modest income. Six of seven children were at home during the Great Depression, but somehow he managed to get by without going on relief, as welfare was called in the 1930's. He worked for the Fresco Railroad on alternate four year periods when that railroad ran the station at Paris, Texas. On the other four year periods, when the Santa Fe Railroad ran the station, he usually worked at chicken processing plants, or when the nation started gearing up for the Second World War he worked as a carpenter building military bases. In 1943 he traveled to San Francisco, the headquarters of the Southern Pacific Railroad, and applied for a job as clerk. He was sent the next day to the station in Guadalupe, where he worked until he retired in 1964. He doubled the size of our house in Texas, and built our home in Grover City almost by himself. Most of the lessons I learned from Daddy were by example rather than verbal instructions. He did not curse or talk vulgar, and he was active in church activities, tithing regularly, and was a deacon and elder from the founding of the Guadalupe Community Church until his death. For us kids attending church was not optional. I do remember him cautioning me about avoiding debt as he said both my grandfathers lost their homes because of debt when The Depression hit. For years he did not have a bank account and mother kept all the family savings of $3,000.00, about two years earnings, in a Bull Durham tobacco sack inside her bra. When they bought five acres of land in Grover City they were able to pay cash. He eventually came around to trusting the banks and opened a checking account. He always had a joint account and Mother could write a check but she never did. She opened her own savings account and put all her savings in it. In the 1950's he even opened a charge account with Sears Roebuck.Daddy always smoked until catching emphysema, which progressively restricted physical activity the last fifteen years of his life. Daddy was inclined to be lenient with his children, and usually punished only when goaded by Mother. He showed emotion, usually love and sympathy, more apparent than mother. It was not unusual to see his eyes tear up during a moving sermon. He certainly loved Mother and was patient when she was out of sorts. He continued to work for years after his health failed to insure Mother would have the benefit of his full Railroad retirement. He was not inclined to read anything other than the Bible or Popular Mechanics magazine. He had a desire to work with wood, and enjoyed making gifts for his children and family during latter years until his health failed. He collected tools and good wood to work with for his retirement years. His health was gone by the time he retired and was only able to go into his shop once or twice. LRE
Obituary of Ernest Estes Grover City -- Ernest Emory Estes, 68, a resident of Grover City for the past 18 years, and formerly of Guadalupe, died Saturday in a Santa Maria hospital. Funeral services were held at 11 A.M. Tuesday at the Grensted Chapel in Grover City. The Rev. Howard Futch of the Guadalupe Community Church officiated. interment followed in the Arroyo Grande District Cemetery. A daughter-in-law, Mrs. Juanell Estes, played sacred organ selections during the chapel services. Mr. Estes was a retired railway clerk, employed by Southern Pacific Railroad Co. for 32 years. He was president of the Railroad Retirement Club of San Luis Obispo and a member of the Guadalupe Community Church. Born in Kennedy, Okla., on Mar. 2, 1899, Mr. Estes moved to this city from Guadalupe in 1949. Surviving is his wife, Mrs. Ola Estes of Grover City, five sons, Ernest E. Estes of Santa Maria, James T. Estes of San Luis Obispo, Leo R. Estes of Susanville, Billy Estes of Fresno and Hardy W. Estes of Grover City; two daughters, Mrs. Betty J. Silva of Guadalupe and Mrs. Margaret O. Cook of San Diego, formerly of Santa Maria; four brothers T. H. Estes of Sayre, Okla., John E. Estes of Auburn, Calif.; Basil L. Estes of Mercedes, Tex., and Lawrence Estes of Stockton, Tex., three sisters, Mrs. Grace Magness of Auburn, Mrs. Mary O. Nix of Stockton and Mrs. Willa J. Comstock of Sacramento. There are also 18 grandchildren who survive and one great granddaughter.
[Contributed by Leo R. Estes 1 Oct 2000 12:00am; last modified by John W. Wilbanks 13 Dec 2000 5:42pm] |
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HOME > SURNAMES > ESTES > BOOK: DESC THOS ESTES > Ernest Emory Estes 1899-1967 |