Esther A. Hite

Esther Arlene Hite, 97, left her family on earth on August 7, 2015 to join those who preceded her to Heaven. Esther was born in Algansee Township to Christine (Bamberger) and William Carl Horn on November 27, 1917. She was the youngest of four children.

Esther was raised in Coldwater where she attended Coldwater High School. She married Howard C. May on November 29, 1935. They were blessed with four children.

Esther was a stay at home Mom until her children were older then went on to become a bookkeeper for many local businesses, working for Michigan Gas, Chapman’s Bookkeeping, the Buick dealer, Kerr Hardware and White Chevrolet.

Her first marriage ended in divorce and she then married Richard L. Hite. She and Dick purchased Montgomery Store in Montgomery, MI and later moved to Clare, Michigan when they purchased West Side Market. They owned and operated the party store for over 20 years, retiring and moving back to the Coldwater area.

Esther was an avid bowler, and was honored to be inducted into the Coldwater Women’s Bowling Association Hall of Fame in 2010. She was proud to be the “Jo” Bowler for the local City Tournament in 2012 and was recognized by the Michigan State Senior Tournament as the oldest participant. She loved to travel, spending winters in Florida, do crossword and jigsaw puzzles, and loved to play Euchre, she never let any grandchildren or great grandchildren say they didn’t know how, she said “come here, I’ll teach you”. She was an obsessive African violet grower, if a windowsill could hold a pot it held a violet.

Esther was the mother, grandmother, greatgrandmother, great great grandmother to 22 sets of fifth generation family members. Esther is survived by her children:

Her son, Howard D. (Clara Lee) May, Jr. of Orlando, FL and his three children-Marijo (Rick) Bercaw of Orlando, her family-Jessica (Michael) Werret and Abagail of Three Rivers; Josh (Vicki) Bercaw and sons Trenton and Braxton of Tekonsha; Drew Bercaw of Oak Harbor, OH and daughters, Aubrey and Hadley; Monty May and son Michael of Orlando, FL; Micki (Tom) Withrow and daughter Beth Cribbs, her daughter Brooklynn of Coldwater.

Daughter, Marilyn (John Shiery) Weber and her children-Dr. Larry (Jill) Granger, Isabelle and Colin of Fort Collins, CO., Lorin (Audra) Granger, sons, Kyler and Kayden of Battle Creek; Nate (Kristen) son Jackson of Chicago, IL; Emily (Jake) Arndt and son Miles of Kalamazoo – LaDonna (Jack) Smith, sons, Adam and Daniel of Howell and daughter Kelly of Metairie, LA – Lynne (Bob) Rudy and children; Josh(Gretchen) Schley, Drew, Haley, Brynn, Hailey King and Wyatt King all of Union City; Lynsie Schley of Lafayette, LA; Billy (Kanesha Waring) Schley, Hope Christine, Brooklynne, and soon to be, Colton of Union City, Kylie Schley of Mendon – Susan (Greg) Rubley, children; Nicole(Dan) Schultz, Ethan and Keagan, Marcus (Lauren) Rubley all of Coldwater, Brenda (Bill) Christy and sons Nicholas (Heidi) Christy and sons Dominick, James William and Logan all of Layton, UT; Matthew of Peoria, IL; John (Shay) Christy of Lompoc, CA, Luke Christy of Layton, UT – David and son, Preston of Bronson; Timothy Granger of Union City; the late Darlene (Dee Dee) Weber Foley and son Heath of Kentwood, Marla (Russ) Haylett-Rurka and sons, Tristin and Hunter of Allen; Brian (Sylvia) Weber, daughters Amber; Shamayne and daughter Brendalynne, Lacey and daughter Adaline all of Tekonsha.

Daughter, Donna (Marc) Cisco of Monroe, their children Janice (Mark) Knezevich of Tucson, AZ, son Eric (Savanah) children, Silus, Zane, Sawyer, son Brandon and daughter Madeline. Sheri Kennon and daughter Jordyn Johnson of Tucson, Zeke (Anjinette) Cisco and children Taia and Marcus of Byron Center and Zach Cisco and family of Phoenix, AZ

Also survived by step-son, Doug (Julie) Hite of Osseo, their two daughters and families and many loving nieces and nephews.

Esther was preceded in death by her parents, the father of her children, Howard C. May, second husband, Richard L. Hite, daughter, Janet Marie May. Four infant grandchildren, granddaughter Darlene Weber-Foley; sisters, Caroline Watson, Wilma Gage and brother, Carl William Horn.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, August 13, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. with visitation starting at 12:00 p.m. prior to the service at the Putnam Funeral Home in Coldwater with Pastor Shayne Looper officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Darlene Weber-Foley Scholarship Fund in care of Putnam Funeral Home