Dorris Myrtle Easley Estes' Obituary
Dorris Myrtle Easley Estes, 95, died in her home at Gatesville, TX on November 5, 2015. She was born at home in Greenville, TX on September 13, 1920, the third daughter of Hildred Edgar “Jack” and Catherine Jane (Whiteley) Easley. The family moved to Vickery, TX (now a neighborhood of Dallas) and, along with her sisters and brothers, was very active in school, church and social activities. She was a cheerleader and athlete in high school, excelling in tennis and basketball, and after graduation, she was invited to play on the Dr. Pepper Women’s Professional Basketball team. She also worked at the Byer-Rolnick Hat Company. During World War II, Dorris worked at the U.S. Post Office and helped assemble needed aircraft at North American Aviation in Grand Prairie, TX. She also attended Draughn’s Business College during this time. After the war she become the Flight Bookkeeper at the Dallas Aviation School at Garland, TX, then was offered a job as Manager of the new White Rock Flying School for G.I.’s. There she met the instrument instructor, Robert “Bob” Estes. He owned a Stearman airplane and taught Dorris how to fly. They were married on November 10, 1946 at the Cochran Chapel Methodist Church in Dallas, TX. Bob and Dorris moved to several places as he flew for different airlines. Their first child, Jack, was born in Dallas, TX in 1950. When Bob’s father became ill, they moved to La Junta, CO to work the ranch there. It was sold 3 years later and Bob became Manager and Dorris worked as accountant and secretary of the Robinson Grain Co in Ordway, CO, plus they had an additional business ofa Cage Layer and Turkey Production operation. During these years, son Jim and daughter Cathy were born. In 1958, the family moved back to Dallas and settled in the Lake Highlands area. In 1971, they moved to a lake home on Lake Lewisville near Frisco, TX. Bob continued to fly and Dorris continued to provide a wonderful home for her family and be active in her family members’ lives. After the children left home, Dorris turned to her interest in genealogy. She promised her sister Johnye to continue the research she had started, and for the next 12 years she researched her family history by traveling to local Court Houses and libraries, and meeting with extended family. Dorris taught herself to write on a small64K computer and wrote her first book in 1990 on the history of her maternal grandfather, John Nelson Whiteley, Sr. and wife Lydia Polina Barefoot, spanning the family history from 1751-1990. Her writing helped us understand not only who our ancestors were, but also how they lived their lives. She completed her last book in 2014 on the Easley family line, going back 11 generations. Dorris also complied books about the Honeycutt, Barefoot, Hofer and Estes family lines that always included information on the wives’ family history as well. She was always willing to help many people learn to research family history. After Bob’s retirement in 1987, they traveled the United States, Mexico and Canada. They settled down to a private lake home near Fairfield, TX, then moved to Gatesville, TX. There she continued her genealogy research since family connections were in the area. Above all Dorris lived for her family and worked hard to provide a loving home. She became the matriarch of the Easley family, keeping connections with the extended family. She was a very giving person and deeply cared about others from her early age even unto her death. Dorris is survived by her son James Estes and wife Diane of Fredericksburg, and daughter Rev. Cathy Estes of Gatesville, and nieces and nephews, extended family and friends. She was predeceased by Robert, her husband of 67 years, her son Jack, her parents, brothers and sisters. Graveside service was held at Restland Cemetery in Dallas. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to a charity of one’s choice.
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