Esta Jane Blair was born to John Frank and Lillie Ada Hoffman Blair on April 22, 1927, in Houston, Texas. The sixth child and fifth generation Texan, Esta was a bright and precocious child, who entered school late after a stint with yellow fever. Proving to quite the academic, Esta graduated from Jefferson Davis in 1946 and attended secretarial school in Houston at the close of the War.
Over the next fifty years, Esta Jane would become a life-long member of the Memorial Baptist Church, Houston, would marry her childhood sweetheart the love of her life, Melvin Maurell “Hap” Jones, would experience his untimely death in 1988, would work 37 years at the University of Texas Dental Branch in Houston, where she retired as a Senior Executive Administrator, would become an expert quilter and demonstrate her love of all handwork, all while becoming a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great great-grandmother. Known as a quiet and gentle soul and a dear friend, with a vivid sense of humor and at times a biting wit, Esta, Jane, mom, Ms. Jones, Aunt Dane and finally, Grammy entered into her eternal rest on August 3, 2023, at 96 years and 3 months in her country home in Coldspring, Texas.
Grammy is survived by her loving and devoted daughter and son-in-law, Judi and John Benestante, Coldspring; grandsons, Erik and wife, Kristi, Coldspring, and Ryan Benestante, Coldspring; great-granddaughter, Hunter McKay Benestante and friend, Elijah Scruggs, Oakhurst; great-grandson, Ethan and Faith Benestante, Coldspring; great-granddaughter, Kynadee Benestante and financé, Noah Johnson, Huntsville; and great-great granddaughter, Ellis Faye, “Ellie Bug” Benestante, Coldspring; special friends, Sonia de Bruin, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Jackson, Houston, various nieces and nephews and Chaplin, Dr. Sena Whitaker, nurses and staff, Gentiva Hospice, Livingston/Jasper.
A visitation for Esta will be held Tuesday, August 8, 2023 from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM at Brookside Funeral Home, 13747 Eastex Freeway, Houston, TX 77039. A graveside service will occur Tuesday, August 8, 2023 at 10:30 AM at Brookside Memorial Park, 13747 Eastex Freeway, Houston, Texas. A burial will occur Tuesday, August 8, 2023 at Brookside Memorial Park.
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