Estal Marie Henderson's Obituary
Estal M. Henderson passed away Sunday, February 5, 2023 at Morningstar Care Homes of Neodesha.
Estal was born in Buxton, Kansas on January 12, 1926, to Oliver and Laura (Stover) Marlett. Estal attended a one room country school for grades 1 through 8 and was a graduate of Fredonia High School class of 1944.
After graduating high school, Estal entered the Wesley Hospital School of Nursing and graduated as a registered nurse. While attending nursing school Estal’s fiancée Lloyd Henderson had been drafted and he and Estal were married August 9, 1946 in Independence, Kansas while Lloyd was on leave before going overseas. Daughter Lynnea arrived on the couple’s second anniversary in 1948. Son Lyndon arrived pre-maturely in May of 1952 on the day of his mother’s baby shower, so Estal’s friends brought the party to the hospital.
During her career as a registered nurse, Estal worked at the hospital in Fredonia, was the staff nurse at the Standard Oil Refinery in Neodesha, worked in the office of Dr. Raymond Beal until his retirement, and for the Wilson County Health Department. Even after retirement blood pressure checks at family gatherings were not out of the question.
Estal was a talented seamstress, most likely because of her petite stature, which necessitated alterations for clothes to fit to her high standards, and a wonderful baker who made the best apple pies from the trees in her orchard and persimmon cookies from her trees by the pond, which was the location for many family celebrations, including the announcement of the impeding arrival of her second granddaughter Erica. She was a member of the Wilson County Conservation Auxiliary and enjoyed the myriad of flowers she planted around her home and the wildlife they attracted.
Lloyd and Estal enjoyed 12 years of retirement together until his passing December 8, 1999. She then continued to live alone in the home she and Lloyd built east of Fredonia and care for their 30 acre tree farm for another 18 years before moving to Morningstar Care Home in Fredonia. Estal spent the last year of her life at Morningstar Care Home in Neodesha.
Survivors include her granddaughters Cassandra (Cox) LeMasurier and husband Kevin of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and Erica Henderson of Lawrence, Kansas, daughter-in-law Laura Henderson and her husband Clayton Linville of Fredonia and daughter Lynnea’s long-time companion Rodney Folger of Altoona, Kansas; and nephews Greg Wells of Fredonia, and Daniel and James Marlett of Wichita.
She was preceded in death by her husband Lloyd, son Lyndon Henderson and daughter Lynnea Cox, parents Oliver and Laura Marlett, brothers Chester “Chet” and Byron Marlett, sister Althea Wells and infant sister Bernice Marlett.
Estal was a 55 year cancer survivor, and was honored as the American Cancer Society Grand Marshal in 2014 for her decades of support. She served as a committee member, daffodil vendor, Relay for Life worker, and her pies set record prices when auctioned for fundraising.
A memorial graveside service will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 at Fredonia City Cemetery.
Donations in Estal’s memory can be made to the American Cancer Society, and can be mailed to or left with the funeral home.
Services entrusted to Countryside Funeral Home, 420 S. 20th, PO Box 247, Fredonia, KS 66736
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