Esther Edith Sommers passed away at the age of 85 in the early afternoon on October 31st, 2025. She left this life peacefully with loved ones by her side. She was born in Jarosa, Colorado at home by a midwife to Edith and John Sallee. Her dad was a religious man and named her Esther after Queen Esther in the bible. Her middle name is after her mother Edith on March 31st, 1940. She was the 4th of 7 children she had 4 sisters and 2 brothers.
She was married to Richard Lee Sommers October 22, 1958, in Toas, New Mexico. They were later sealed for Eternity in the Salt Lake Temple June 19th, 1964. They were blessed with 4 Children Tammy, Rickee, Troy and Ronda; 21 Grandchildren; and 23 Great Grandchildren. She was an adventurous little girl who loved fishing, camping, and the outdoors. When she was little you might even have seen her on a rooftop so she could get on 2x4’s that she would use as stilts and then go rooftop to rooftop of houses. She lost her father at a very young age of 4 and was raised with help of different families that she lived with because her mother lived in a tiny 1 room place earning $1 a week. She shared that for Christmas they would get a stocking with oranges and nuts. She was survived by her brother John and her sister Bonnie.
She was a convert and baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1952. Esther graduated from Arvada High School in 1958 where she was very active as a cheerleader, twirler, ski club, advanced chorus, junior play and prom attendant.
She attended beauty school when she was pregnant with Troy and worked for many years from a home beauty shop as a hairdresser; many times 12-16 hour days. She was an entrepreneur, temple worker and a mom teaching her children between right and wrong. She was active in church, church activities, banquets but church meals were her specialties. She was a fantastic cook (all of her children and husband had the waistline to prove it LOL). She learned many skills at crafting activities in Relief Society and quilting was one of the biggest. She served in many callings that allowed her to teach those skills to others. Esther also enjoyed crocheting and shared this talent with her children and grandchildren.
When her husband passed away she dedicated herself to temple work, genealogy and church, a truly devoted daughter of God.
Her Funeral Service will be held Saturday November 8th at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 2300 N Buckner St, Derby, Kansas, the viewing at 1:00pm followed by the service at 2:00pm. She will be laid to rest at Crown Hill Mortuary with her husband in Colorado on Monday, November 10, 2025.
