Esther Mae Perry

October 11, 1924 - May 24, 2021

Esther Mae Perry, 96, of Boonville, slept into the arms of Jesus on Monday, May 24, 2021, at University of Missouri Hospital in Columbia. Services will be held on Thursday, June 3, 2021, 11:00 AM at St. Matthews AME Church. The visitation will be from 10-11 AM at the church on Thursday. Services will be broadcast on Facebook Live on Thursday, June 3, 2021 at 11:00 AM at https://www.facebook.com/htmayfuneralhome. Esther Mae (Ellis) Perry was born on October 11,1924 in Kansas City Kansas to proud parents Mother Edna Mae (Berry) Ellis and Father Charles Augustus Ellis. The home address was 530 Nebraska Ave. Her maternal grandparents were Harry Berry and Hester Mae Berry, her paternal grandparents were Ambrose Ellis and Martha Ellis. Esther met Charles L Perry when he was still in the US Army. They became engaged, later married and settled in Boonville, MO. Charles and Esther raised a beautiful family of seven children. (4) daughters Rhodella Mae Malone (1)…oh she could bake those sweet treats and gladly share them with everybody. The cook and main provider for the family holiday meals. Charlotte Elaine (1) was her fashionista and modeled clothes for some time. Matonia Louise (1) was her speaker, sometimes asked to do readings at different times and places…..just loves to talk. Viola Marie adored helping people, especially if she could sing to them. The family songbird. Then there were the (3) boys who all followed Dad Charles into different branches of the US Military. Michael Renne joined the US Army, Mitchell Eugene joined the US Marine Corps and Charles Thomas joined the United States Navy. Charles and Esther were proud of their “brood” as they affectionally called them. When Esther married Charles, she would often say “I married into a Great family” because she received so much Love and affection from her in-laws. Charles’ parents Dan and Viola Perry and his (7) brothers and (8) sisters. Esther had (1) sister Lois Violet “Ms Dollie” (Ellis) Overton who was married to Chap Overton Jr and they raised 10 children. Esther attended her early years of schooling in the building on the corner of 4th St and Spruce St, the old former Sumner School, here in Boonville. The family moved back to Kansas and Esther attended Grant School through the 8th grade. When the family returned and settled in Boonville, she went to the “then” recently built Sumner School located at 1100 Rural St, known as East-of-Boonville, and graduated in May 1943. Esther and her sister Dollie were raised by their Dad’s sister and her husband. They called them Aunt Rhodie and Uncle Andrew. They tried to be the best example of parents the girls needed. Everything they could do, they did to make a wonderful home for them to grow up in and know they were Loved. Esther began working at the young age of 11 years, doing domestic work in private family homes. Some of the places Esther proudly worked at during her working days were, Pete’s Café, Bobben’s Shoe Mfg, Kemper Military School & College and at Toastmaster Service Center, formerly known as McGraw Edison. She retired from Toastmaster after working there for 17 years. She always said she had such a good time and so much fun working with different people and making some lifelong lasting friendships. Esther joined St. Matthews at an early age and during her lifetime membership, she was a member or officer of virtually every organization in the church that she could possibly join. She truly, truly Loved the Lord and tried to express that Love to everyone else she came into contact with. Esther Loved everyone with such devotion throughout her entire lifetime. She and Charles baptized, taught and reared all of their children in St. Matthews. Some of the organizations she belonged to were the Usher Board from which she trained all of her daughters to be able to carry on His works. She had a beautiful voice and sang in the choir and sometimes her sister Ms Dollie was at the piano. In the early days of raising their family, all of the children sang in the Youth Choir. She served on the then Frances Patterson Missionary Society. When her health had allowed her she served one of the highest local honours in the church as President Pro-Tem of the Steward Board. She was the church announcer and with distinction she read condolences for all services held at St. Matthew. She served as a church delegate during our Annual Conferences. She enjoyed attending all church programs and serving in the kitchen afterwards. One of Esther’s most honoured and cherished achievements was on September 4, 2010 when she was consecrated as a DEACONESS during the conference that was held in Wichita Kansas that year. ESTHER’S WORDS I was so happy and so appreciative to see the many members of St Matthew Chapel AME Church there to support me. I was extremely proud to see most of my family members from close by also in attendance. Esther taught all of her children that you must take care of the Lord’s House like you take care of your own. So all of her children at different times would be the janitor or do the lawn work or what was needed. She had received so many awards and praises and certificates of appreciation . Esther did volunteer work in the community and received certificates from the Head Start program under the leadership of Ms Virginia Stemmons. She took her youngest two boys to Head Start. She was very proud of the certificate she received for serving 12 years on the board of the Boonville Housing Authority. She was appointed by then Mayor Bud Kempf and enjoyed being involved in the organization. During her lifetime, Esther acquired many terms of endearment (nicknames) from those who Loved her such as …. Mom, Mother Esther Perry, Ma Perry, Ma Kettle, Granny, Auntie, Sis just to name a few and she with Love answered to them all. After her retirement, Esther looked forward to being able to help take care of her Grandchildren. She had a few hobbies she really got to enjoy such as going to garage sales, shopping and taking care of flowers. Esther had stated that after we all left Water St. it seemed everybody got a green thumb. Esther found such pleasure in communicating with people. She enjoyed sending greeting cards of all sorts, at anytime to everyone. It made her heart happy when she received many back in return. Of course, nothing brought more pleasure than a hug from a visit or a lengthy phone call. Esther was proceeded in death by her husband Charles (08/07/1995) son Mitchell (07/16/16) daughter Marie (04/27/18) son Tommy (08/29/19) daughter Rhodella (03/29/21) a grandson Christopher P-Korte, sister “Dollie Overton”, several brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews. She leaves to cherish her memory: daughters Charlotte (KCMO) Matonia (Boonville) and son Michael (Germany), 13 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren. Two aunts-in-law, Lillie Pierce (KCMO) Sally Lewis (Kentucky) two sisters-in-law Martha Vincent (Des Moines IA) Maxine Perry (Boonville), three bothers-in-law George Perry (Pilot Grove MO) William Vincent (Des Moines IA) Cornelius Black (Des Moines IA) and a host of nieces, nephews and many many friends. ESTHERS’ WORDS ‘I always tried to be a Mother Figure to all children and anyone I thought might need it”