Esther G. Clark Burleson, age 85, passed away Oct. 14, 2018. 

She was born in Baldwin, Iowa, Dec. 11, 1932 to Alva and Dorcas (Scow) Clark. She had twelve siblings. Esther married Scotty Burleson, also of Baldwin, Iowa, on May 31, 1949, but they later divorced. They had three children, Randa, Rebecca (deceased), and Kevin.

Esther was an elementary school teacher for over thirty years.  She began her career in Iowa, then eventually moved to Gower, MO where she taught for twenty-two years, from 1978 until she retired in 2000. She earned her teaching degree from the University of Northern Iowa at Cedar Falls, and later received a Master’s Degree from Northwest State University at Maryville, MO.

She loved teaching and dedicated herself to her students. She enjoyed music and teaching tricks to her parakeet, Captain B. Her family will remember her humor, her love, her generosity, her songs, her hugs, and her ready supply of Blue Bunny Mint Chip and/or Bunny Tracks flavored ice cream.

Esther was a devout believer and lived her convictions unapologetically. Prior to her illness, she attended Representatives of Christ Church in St. Joseph.

Esther is preceded in death by her parents, her siblings, Forest, Everett, Bud, Dorthea, Caroline, Carlyle, Floyd, Leon, Eugene, Sterling, and Gloria; her daughter, Rebecca, and a granddaughter, Angela Baldwin.

She is survived by her daughter, Randa (Harold) Arnett, of Arkansas City, KS, and her son, Kevin (Cheryl) Burleson of St. Joseph. She also leaves grandchildren, Christy Reed, Jeremy and Mathew Burleson, Jaylon Baldwin, Travis, Nate, and Thad Hunt, Michael, Samuel, Daniel, Benjamin, Jeremiah and Susan Arnett; and thirty-seven great-grandchildren.

Private Family Services will be held a later date. Inurnment: Allen Cemetery, Gower, MO.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Noyes Home in St. Joseph.