Esther Ellen Criman

Esther Ellen (Hawkins) Criman, 89, passed away September 30, 2025 at the home of her daughter, Gina Knox, in Merriam, Kansas. She was born in a farmhouse in Sumner County, Kansas on May 10, 1936 to Sanford Urban Hawkins and Mamie Katherine (Peters) Hawkins.

She was raised and attended elementary school in Kaw City, OK. She moved to Apperson, OK and graduated from Burbank Oklahoma High School in 1954. She then moved to Wichita, KS and attended Wichita Business College where she graduated from a secretarial course. She was working for the Board of Education in Wichita when she met her future husband.

Esther married Harold G. Criman of Benton, KS on December 26, 1955. Together they raise three children. She retired from Case Corp. in Wichita after 28 years of service. Esther made many beautiful quilts over the years. She was a avid reader by day and liked to watch her TV shows by night.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband, Harold Criman; two brothers, Wilford Hawkins and Glen Hawkins; one sister, Julia (Hawkins) Scott; and one son-in-law, Jim Scott.

She is survived by two daughters, Carrie Scott of Gardner, KS, and Gina Knox and her husband, Danny, of Merriam, KS; one son, Kevin Criman of Wichita, KS; two grandchildren, Kelly Ashbaugh and Andy Knox; two great-grandchildren, Wyatt and Morgan Ashbaugh; and one sister, Darlene (Hawkins) Winters of Wichita, KS.

A visitation will take place on Friday, October 10, 2025 from 12:00-1:00 PM at Hillside Funeral Home West, located at 2929 West 13th Street North, Wichita, KS 67203. Her funeral service will begin at 1:00 PM at the same location. Interment will take place at Benton Cemetery immediately following the funeral service.