Esther Elizabeth Craine

Longtime resident of West Saint Paul, Esther Craine died after a brief illness at the age of 97. She was a two time cancer survivor of over 30 years. Her longevity amazed her doctors who often described her as a thirty year old mind in a 97 year old body.

An accomplished amateur photographer, she was a Longtime member of the Saint Paul Camera Club and authored their centennial video “One Hundred Years in the Picture.” She worked for 3M corporation for 38 years, retiring in 1982. She started in what was then called the secretarial pool, eventually becoming the administrative assistant to the Chairman of the Board. After his retirement, she helped create some of the first programs to develop future female executives. Which was a radical idea at that time.

She traveled often during her long life, frequently in the company of her sister and best friend Ruth Clifton (1923-2002). The two of them had many adventures, driving across country several times in the late 40’s hauling 4x5 film cameras into places like Glacier National Park and the Oilfields of California. She, and her ever present cameras visited all 50 states, New Zealand, Australia, Scandinavia, Britain and the Caribbean.

She had a wide circle of friends through the camera club, and her church, Faith United Methodist, in West St. Paul, She was also a lifelong member of the Order of the Eastern Star, though inactive due to her health for many years.

Though she never had children, she was a second mother and grandmother to many of us.

She is survived by her Nephews: John Clifton of Maplewood, MN; Karl and Donald Craine of Vashon WA, William Craine of Vancouver, WA; Jud Clifton of Sandy OR; her niece Kit Craine of Moscow, ID, their families and many friends.

A private interment will be held at a later date at Acacia Park Cemetery.

She was kind, she was selfless, she was grace in motion.

She was; our Esther.