Esther R Stone

Funeral Services for Esther R. Stone will be held on Friday, January 4, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at the Peace Lutheran Church in Alma, Nebraska with Pastor Paul Ferrarone and Pastor Scott Randell officiating.   Interment will follow at the Republican City Cemetery, near Republican City, Nebraska.

Mrs. Esther Rose (White) Stone was born the third of six children to Lester Arthur White and Opal Rose (Graham) White on January 8, 1928, on a farm near Old Town Republican City.  She departed this life on Monday, December 31, 2018 at the Franklin Care and Rehabilitation Center in Franklin, Nebraska.  She was 90 years, 11 months and 8 days old.  Esther resided with her parents on a farm and attended grade school and high school at Old Town Republican City, where she graduated.  As a teenager she worked at Sim's Cafe. One of her favorite past times was dancing.  Esther would rather dance than eat her meal.

On August 4, 1946 she was united in marriage to Merle "Dean" Stone at the United Methodist Church in Phillipsburg, Kansas.  To this union, one son was born:  Garold Dean Stone.  Dean and Esther operated the State Line Filling Station south of Alma, for five years until Dean was drafted into the United States Army.  The Army stationed Dean in Italy during the early 1950's, and Esther later joined him there.  After Dean's call of duty, they returned to a farm south of Republican City in the Glenwood Township, which was located in Phillips County, Kansas until 1960.  Dean and Esther moved to the Frank Woolman place in Harlan County, Nebraska and continued to farm.  In 1979, Dean and Esther retired from farming and purchased the apartments in Republican City, which were renamed: "Stone Apartments"; and were under their management for 17 years.  They entertained guests through hunting and fishing expeditions.  On May 1, 1996, Dean and Esther sold Stone's Apartments.  They continued to live in Republican City until Dean's death, when Esther moved to Alma.

Esther was a member of numerous clubs, including:  The I.M.P.; the Busy Bee; and the Women's Auxiliary Post # 361.

Esther loved to quilt and take care of her rose gardens.  She had recently started a quilt and asked her great-granddaughter, Maddie Stone to finish it for her.  Maddie is excited to complete the quilt.

Esther was preceded in death by; her husband, Merle Dean Stone on July 7, 1996; an infant brother, Chester D. White, who passed away June 27, 1943; her mother, Opal in 1946; her father, Lester in 1971; her stepmother, Leola (Cassell) White, on November 1, 1986; a sister, Rosalie Marks, on February 3, 2008; a brother, Robert White, on August 1, 2015; and a sister, Clarice Manion on March 5, 2018.

She leaves to mourn her passing; her son, Garold Stone and wife, Shirley of Republican City; three grandchildren: Angela Bond of Green, Kansas; Jason Stone and wife, Rebecca of Republican City; and Melissa Martin and husband, Roudy of Alma; seven great-grandchildren, including:  five great-granddaughters:  Gabriel (Gabby), Daniel (Danny) and Isabel (Bel) Bond all of Green; and Madalynn (Maddie) and Samantha (Sami) Stone of Republican City;  two great-grandsons:  Lance Stone and Wyatt Martin both of Alma; her brother, Charlie White and wife, Mary of Naponee, Nebraska; a brother in law, Maurice Manion of Cushing, Oklahoma; along with many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 3, 2018 from 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the Bauer-Torrey & Mach Funeral Home in Alma.

A memorial has been established in Esther's honor and will be given to:  Camp Joy; the Alma Volunteer Fire & Rescue Unit; or the Green Christian School of Green, Kansas.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com .

The Bauer-Torrey & Mach Funeral Home in Alma is in charge of the arrangements