Obituary of Sylvia Ann Estes

CANEY—Sylvia Ann (Waggoner) Estes, 86, passed from this world on July 21, 2020, into the glorious next life with her Lord at The Journey Home in Dewey, Oklahoma. She was with the family she loved so much surrounding her. Sylvia was born to Walter (Mike) and Dorothy (Aitken) Waggoner on Jan. 19, 1934, in Coffeyville. She started her schooling at Garfield School until the mid-4th grade when her family moved to Caney. She graduated from Caney High School in 1952. It was in Caney schools where she met her one and only love, Ferd Estes and they were later married in 1955. After her marriage and two children, she graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Kansas with a B.S. in Education. Sylvia was too busy and happy raising her own family to accept a full-time teaching job. However, she did some substitute teaching in Atchison, Kansas and was a little proud that many years later she could help some of her grandchildren with Algebra, During the years of World War II, her father, Mike Waggoner, was too old for the draft so he worked in defense plants located in Colorado and Indiana. As soon as school was out for the summer, her mother, brother Jim and she would go to join her father wherever he was working. It was these summers in Colorado that she loved the mountains and that later became her favorite area to vacation in. Sylvia claimed to be a "jack off all trades and master of none." She repaired windows in the home, hung wallpaper, reupholstered chairs, made most of her children's clothes when they were young, was an avid reader and taught piano for many years. She loved sports and watching her children play ball. When there was no league for the boys after Little League, she formed a Pony League and recruited boys to play. When there was no league for grade school age girls to play softball, she formed that league and later spent a summer on tour as the "commissioner" and made pennants for the winning teams. She later took up quilting and made well over 100 quilts, giving them away to family and friends. While she had many interests, her first love was her Lord during all her lifetime. She quietly tried to be an example of one of Christ's followers. Her other love was for her family, her husband Ferd and all of those whom God sent to them. She is survived by her husband Ferd Estes; five children, Michael Estes and his wife Cathy; Patricia Horton; James Estes and his wife Karen; Elizabeth Anderson and her husband Kenny; David Estes; 10 grandchildren, Michelle Estes and her husband Tyler; Caitlin Ramsey and her husband Chris; Rachel Renfro and her husband Marc; Jonathan Estes; Lindsey Cacozza and her husband Joe; Jacqueline Horton; John Horton and fiance Natalie Williams; Brandon Higday and his wife Melissa; Ashley Beurskens and her husband Brett; Kyler Estes. Great-granchildren are Hollie, Owen, Heidi and Taylor Higday; Joey and Gianni Cacozza; Logan and baby girl Kraus; Aethan Renfro; Jace Williams and several much loved nieces and nephews. In addition, she is survived by her sister-in-law Wilna Waggoner. Sylvia is preceded in death by her parents, one brother Jim, four aunts, several uncles, son-in-law Jack Horton and several cousins. A rosary will be recited at 9:30 a.m., Monday, July 27, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Caney. Funeral Mass will be held following at 10:00 a.m. Graveside services will be held in the Sunnyside Cemetery, Caney. Memorial donations may be sent to: Sacred Heart Altar Society or The Journey Home of Dewey, Oklahoma. Arrangements are being made by David W. Barnes Funeral Home, Coffeyville.