Celebrating the Life of Esther

My 90 year old mother peacefully passed into a better place last month. She was an amazing lady.

  Celebrating the Life of

 Esther Elizabeth Elliott Speck

April 10, 1921 – August 26, 2011

Esther’s memory of her reunion with K after World War II: I had gone to San Antonio to meet him knowing he would be discharged there. I stayed in a hotel and he was to come there to meet me. About the time I thought he would arrive I got impatient and went down to the lobby. Looking out the window I saw him coming down the sidewalk. I went out to meet him and we arrived at the intersection about the same time. The light was red but we couldn’t wait for it to change, so we each started across and met in the center of the street. Traffic stopped as we embraced for the first time in over two years. Traffic stopped again when they reunited in heaven for the first time in over five years, August 26, 2011.

 At her funeral each of her four children and a minister spoke about a part of her life.

Randy told about her community life. Mommy was the quiet, efficient volunteer. She made sure that things got done. She was president of the PTA, community contributor and graciously accepted anyone who called on her. She made a place for many to live with them. There were foreign visitors, family members, visiting preachers and just people who needed a place to stay. She was the ultimate hostess.

Mike Ross spoke of her spiritual life. She was an inspiration to many. She was a wise and thoughtful teacher. Esther was a counselor  and encourager. She taught ladies' Bible class in her home for many years. She organized and served the Bible service at Village on the Park where she spent her later years.

Larry gave the audience a glimpse of her intellectual life. She graduated as salutatorian at Tyler High School.  She was great at "data retrieval". We did not need a phone book or dictionary because Mommy knew everyone's number and could spell any word. She was emphatic that we should read, write and speak correct grammar. She knew something about everything. She was quiet and unassuming, so many people did not know just how smart she was.

I had the privilege  to talk about her creative life. Mommy dabbled in every aspect of the arts. She loved to sing, write, design, decorate, paint, sew...you name it, she probably tried it. I enjoyed sharing time with her creating. When I was born, Pop was expecting a sweet, feminine little girl like his wife. Instead he got himself. I was blessed with her creativity and his personality. It has served me well.

Lisa told the large crowd about her family life. Lisa was adopted when the other children were 8, 12, and 14 years old. We brought her home when she was 2 days old. She had a different perspective on our parents because Pop sold his business about the time I went away to college. Lisa became the only child of some very busy parents who took her with them as they traveled the world. Mommy was a stay at home mom and was a mom to more than her 4 children. Our house was home to many.


Esther Elizabeth Elliott Speck was a great lady. She will be missed by many. 


You can hear her inspiring eulogy here.