Esther F. Fisher

Born on December 31, 1930, Esther was the second daughter of Theodore and Ruth Royce. Theodore and Ruth had six children, and they all worked hard and did chores on their small dairy farm in Johnsonburg, New York. Esther spoke fondly and in vivid detail of farm-life chores, maple syrup production, sleigh rides, and life in the country on a dairy farm.

Esther and Norm grew up in the same small town. Of course, the Fisher boys and the Royce children knew each other. They attended the same schools, church services, and community functions. Esther would often tell stories of seeing Norm screaming down the steep hill on Centerline Road—on horseback, by bicycle, on a sled, or simply running—trying to catch the school bus before it left without him.

Norm and Esther started dating after attending Attica Central School and were married in their small Johnsonburg United Methodist Church a year and a half after graduation, on September 1, 1951. Their honeymoon to Niagara Falls had a couple of mishaps, including lost luggage, but that didn’t affect them one bit at the beginning of their love affair.

Norm and Esther moved to Florida for a short time but returned to western New York before Norm was drafted into the Army in March 1955. After basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, Norm went to Fort Bliss, Texas, for guided missile training. Esther, along with their first two children, Francine and David, joined him there in October 1955. Norm’s final Army training was at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. He was honorably discharged from the Army on March 15, 1957.

Norm, Esther, and their now three children—Francine, David, and Steven—moved to Long Grove, Illinois, where Norm worked at a machine shop and Esther managed the household and cared for their growing family.

In September 1973, Norm, Esther, and eight of their children—Steven, Martha, Tim, Jeff, Jody, Scott, Charlene, and John—moved to Greeley, Colorado. Esther worked for Greeley Hospital and its hospitality house for a time and held a few other odd jobs, but she was primarily a homemaker and caregiver. She loved seeing all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Esther taught Sunday School for 4- to 6-year-olds for many, many years. Her focus for those children—and everyone she met—was always love, caring, and understanding. She often said that children didn’t need discipline or structure; they needed love and kisses. That was the cure.

Esther and Norm gave freely of their time and money to those in need, even though they had so little of either. They sponsored so many children through World Vision that it seemed there was always a new profile picture of a child on the refrigerator, right next to our drawings or report cards.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of Esther’s favorite charities: ABWE Foundation, World Vision, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Or donate to one of your own favorite charities—she would love that.

Esther will be greatly missed, and we didn’t want to let her go, but we all came to understand that her time here on earth was complete and she was ready to be with her Lord and her husband. She couldn’t wait any longer to see them both!

Esther is survived by her 10 children: Francine Bryant (Grinnell, IA), David (Crystal Lake, IL), Steven (Greeley, CO), Martha Frederick (Fort Collins, CO), Tim (Bartlesville, OK), Jeff (Greeley, CO), Jody (McMinnville, OR), Scott (Windsor, CO), Charlene (Greeley, CO), and John (Fort Collins, CO); 26 grandchildren; and 35 great-grandchildren.

There will be a public visitation on Thursday, September 17, 2026, from 4pm to 6pm, at Allnutt Funeral Service Macy Chapel, funeral services will be held on Friday, September 18, 2026, from 10am till 11am, also at Allnutt Funeral Service Macy Chapel with a reception following the service.

A Committal Service will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens, 3400 West 28th Street, Greeley, CO 80634, US, on September 18, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm.