Ester Clay

Ester Clay, 98, Paola, a long-time Miami County resident died October 22, 2009, at Vintage Park, Paola. She was born at St. Francis, Kansas March 23, 1911 to Charles and Lucy Margaret Huddle Latham. The family moved to Florida in 1913, and in 1916 to her father"s farm in Miami County, Kansas, and in 1927 to Paola. She attended Scott Valley, District 58 in Richland Township, Paola High School, graduating in 1929, and attended the College of Paola. She did apprentice cosmetology with her mother in her mother"s beauty shop and started barbering at the age of 14. Many remember her cutting their hair during the depression. She married George Arthur Bright May 19, 1929. They moved to her father"s farm in Richland Township in 1932 and then to a farm northwest of Osawatomie in 1944. They moved to Paola in 1953. George preceded her in death May 6, 1965. Ester and Carl Clay were married March 31, 1978. He preceded her in death July 8, 1997. Her parents; brother, Lester Latham; daughter, Janeva Moser Kraus; grandson, Franklin Lee Borror, Jr.; and great-great-granddaughter, Haelie Springer, preceded her in death. Ester was a farm wife, 4-H leader in the Spring Ridge Club and the D.I.Y. Club. With George, operated a store at Cadmus and a store and service station in LeLoup and after his death she worked as a teacher"s aide at Wellsville, taught pre-school at Paola, worked for US Dept. of Agriculture as a Nutrition Program Aide, and was a manager at Maple Vista. Ester also was a Brownie leader and active in H.D.U. In retirement, Ester enjoyed traveling, dancing and was active in senior groups. She loved sewing, quilting and all kinds of crafts. Ester was active in every church she attended starting with the Eden Chapel Methodist Church, Bethel Baptist, Stanton E.U.B, and was a member of Paola and Fontana Christian Churches. At Paola Christian she was a pianist, in the church choir, a Sunday School teacher, Superintendent of Vacation Church School and active in Womens Groups completing the four year course in Menninger Bible Class. Ester is survived by 3 daughters, Jo Ann Fuller, Tacoma, WA; Nannette Arleen Cox (Edward Ray), Choctaw, OK; Roberta Jean Borror (Franklin), Garnett, KS; son, George Arthur Bright, Jr., Defiance, OH; 10 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren, 6 great-great-grandchildren, and many step grandchildren. Her local surviving family members are grandson, Randy Moser (Hilde), Paola; granddaughter, Kathryn Puvogel (Steve), Paola; great granddaughters, Stacy Evans (Nick), Spring Hill; Andrea Peace (Sam), Paola; great-grandson, Donny Moser (Shannon), Osawatomie; great-grandson, Trent Caswell, Lane; great-great-grandson, Colton Caswell, Lane; and great-great-grandaughter, Makenzie Moser, Osawatomie.