Williamson, Esther Mae (1924-2005)

WILLIAMSON, CROW, NAILOR

Posted By: John Schulte (email)
Date: 8/19/2005 at 12:35:59

Audubon County Advocate

Funeral services for Esther Mae Williamson, 80, were conducted Aug. 16, 2005 at the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon, with Pastor Kay Steddom officiating. Interment was in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon. Honorary casket bearers were Lucas Wheeler and special friend, Samantha Hansen. Casket bearers were Donald Heiner, Kendall Wiederstein, Wayne Moreland, Mike Weisenborn, Eldon Wright and Duane Wright.

Esther Mae Williamson, the daughter of Harry and Mildred Crow Nailor, was born Dec. 11, 1924, at her parents' home in Audubon and died Aug. 13, 2005, at the Friendship Home in Audubon.

Esther was baptized and confirmed at the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon. She attended rural Audubon County schools until the eighth grade and then graduated from Audubon High School with the Class of 1942. After graduating, she taught country school at Bunker Hill School for a year and then taught in LeRoy Township for a year.

On May 9, 1944, she was united in marriage to Lester Williamson at Lesters' parent’s home in LeRoy Township. Two children were born to this union, Collin on Nov. 23, 1946 and Connie on April 21, 1956. Esther taught school for one more year after being married. She worked for the Soil Conservation Board; she traveled around selling toys, and sold children’s clothing, before starting to operate a sewing machine for a furniture factory. When the furniture factory sold out, she bought all of the equipment and started an upholstery business in her garage at home. As the business grew, she moved from the garage to the lumber yard, and finally bought a building on Main Street in Audubon. In 1984, she sold the building on Main Street and moved the business back to her home. In 1994, Esther retired and sold the upholstery business to Connie. Esther continued to work for Connie. The upholstery business continued to grow until the death of Connie on Aug. 9, 2001.

Esther moved to the Friendship Home in February of 2002. She lived there until the time of her death.

Esther was active in the church and a lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon.

Preceding her in death in addition to her parents and daughter, were her grandchildren: Leslie Mae Wheeler and Lance Nailor Wheeler; and her sister and brother-in-law, Lois and Eilert Buckholdt.

Esther is survived by her husband, Lester Williamson of Audubon; her son, Collin and wife, Sharlene Williamson of Audubon; her grandson, Lucas Wheeler and special friend, Samantha Hansen of Audubon; her step-grandchildren: Charles and wife, Bernadette Heiner of Spickard, MO; Donald Heiner, Jr. of Omaha, NE; Rebecca and husband, Mark Andersen of Milsap, TX; her step-great-grandchildren: Sharon and Relo Ramirez; and Samantha Andersen, all of Milsap, TX; other relatives and friends.