Beulah Rae Estes

Beulah Rae "Boo" Estes, 87, formerly of Joplin, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Tuesday, July 6, 2010 at her home in Springdale, Arkansas after a long illness. Boo was born September 11, 1922 to the late William Everett Donalson and Bertha Faurot Donalson at the family home in rural Barton County, Missouri. When she was 13 Boo moved from the family farm to Lamar where she attend high school and worked in a family's home. After graduating from Lamar High School in 1940 as Valedictorian Boo moved to Kansas City, Missouri to live with her step-sister Vera Randall and attend Business College. After completing her studies she was employed by the Kansas City Southern Railroad. Unknown to Boo the position she accepted had been recently vacated by Bob Estes following his entry into service with the U.S. Army. During leave Bob traveled home to "inspect" who was working his desk at the office, "strutting in, in his uniform" as Boo fondly recalled many times. That is when Boo and Bob first met. After much correspondence between the two, Bob sent a telegraph requesting Boo's hand in marriage. She accepted. On April 14, 1944 the two were united in marriage in Kansas City, Kansas. When Bob returned from service in Europe the couple relocated to Baton Rouge, Louisiana where Bob continued his employment with the Kansas City Southern Railroad. While in Baton Rouge three sons were born. In 1956, the railroad moved the family to North Little Rock, Arkansas, and then in 1965, they were again relocated to Joplin, Missouri where they stayed through and after Bob's retirement. Boo was an active member of First United Methodist Church of Joplin. She and Bob taught every level of children's Sunday school classes through Senior High and later taught the Kum Dub'l Class which Boo continued to teach after Bob's death. Following Bob's retirement from the Kansas City Southern Railroad he and Boo traveled extensively to Israel, the British Isles and throughout the continental United States. She and Bob served as counselors at the New Life Ranch in Siloam Springs. In addition Boo worked with the First United Methodist Church of Joplin Well Child Clinic. Boo loved Jesus. She spent her life serving Him. She was a forward looking lady and lived life to the fullest. Her fruit pies, blueberry, apple and peach were well known and always very much appreciated. Boo was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bob, a sister, Freda Lenore Reagan and a brother, Bayne Ian Donalson. Boo is survived by three sons, Bob Estes Jr. and wife Tricia of Fayetteville, Ark., S. Kent Estes and wife Debi of Springdale, Ark., George William Estes of Vacaville, Calif., six grandchildren, Robert Ray Estes III and his wife Peggy, Matthew Price Estes, John Michael Estes, Sarah Elizabeth Estes, Scott K. Estes and wife Alisha, and Elizabeth F. Brown, four great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services are scheduled for 10 o'clock, Friday morning, July 9, 2010 at the First United Methodist Church of Joplin with Reverend David Fitzmaurice and Pastor Paul Sagan officiating. Burial will follow at the Osborne Cemetery in Joplin. A visitation will be held Thursday evening from 6 o'clock until 8 o'clock at the Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary in Joplin. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.thornhilldillon.com. The family would like to offer a special thanks to the staff, nurses and physicians at the Circle of Life Hospice of Springdale, Arkansas for their care and assistance provided during Boo's last illness.