On Nov. 7, 2018, my mother-in-law, Esther May (Moler) Cheney Barnes left this world and entered her heavenly dwelling. She had been ill for some time, with her physical condition rapidly deteriorating in the two weeks prior to her death. She was 93 years old.

Esther grew up in Meade Kansas, a rural area southwest of Dodge City. As a child and teenager during the Great Depressions, she had memories of hard times and dust storms. She graduated high school in 1943, went to junior college, then was pressed into service teaching, as there was a shortage of teachers.

In 1946 she married Wayne Cheney of nearby Fowler Kansas. They had three children (one of whom died shortly after childbirth) and Esther miscarried at least twice. She and Wayne divorced around 1953. Esther remarried in 1986, to Chester Barnes. Chester had five children, three of whom were by his first wife; he and she divorced and he wasn’t close to the children. He had two daughters by his second wife, and these became like additional daughters to Esther.

She was city clerk for the City of Meade for 35 years, retiring in 1988. Her starting salary was $0.99 per hour. She had a difficult life as a single mom. For some time she and the children lived with Esther’s parents in Meade. Esther paid rent to them, however. It was a difficult life, with the three of them sharing a bedroom, Esther working her main job plus other jobs such as babysitting and washing to help make ends meet. She got through it, however. And her children grew up to become responsible adults.

Esther was a rock-solid Christian. She was saved at a very early age, before memories carried into adulthood, and lived a consistent Christian walk after that. She joined the Church of the Nazarene (the church of her parents and grandparents), and, wherever she lived, this was her home church. Despite her financial hardships, she was a faithful tither. Her ministries in the church were pianist, organist, choir member, board member, and Sunday school teacher.

In 1988 she and her second husband retired to Benton County Arkansas, where Chester had been given a few acres. There they had a retirement farm where they raised cattle, ostriches, and emus. In 1996 they left this farm for full retirement in Bentonville. Chester died in 1999, and Esther was a widow for her last 19 years. She gradually “downsized”, from her house to an apartment to an independent living apartment to living with us for a few years, then finally to an assisted living facility in Bella Vista, about a mile from our home. It was there that she seemed happiest.

Esther leaves a good legacy for her family. She knew her two grandchildren and four step-grandchildren. She knew four great-grandchildren, and enjoyed them being part of her life when they came for a visit.

Our family will miss her. At the same time, we are rejoicing that she has reached her heavenly home, safe in the arms of Jesus.