Estella Elizabeth Meech, age 84, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Sunday, August 11, 2019, at the Guest Home Estates in Ft. Scott. She was born June 7, 1935, in Hepler, Kansas, the daughter of Oscar Jacob Gier and Lizzie Belle Goff Gier.
She graduated from the Hepler High School where she excelled in basketball. While still in High School, Estella would take the Katy Railroad train on Friday evening from Hepler to Fort Scott to work at the Frisco Café. She stayed at Elizabeth Bowman’s boarding house on Wall Street.
She would take the Katy train back to Hepler on Monday morning and had to miss her first class. Estella married the love of her life, Dennis Walter Meech on June 6, 1953, by Judge Sam Mason in Ft. Scott. They had two sons, Dennis J. Meech and James W. Meech. Estella helped her husband, Dennis, on their dairy farm milking cows, gardening and raising their sons. Estella also worked for Key Industries. In October of 1972, she started working for Ward-Kraft. She retired in 2003 as Credit Manager. Estella loved to write poems and stories. She also loved hosting family reunions and was famous in the family for her homemade noodles.
She also loved to travel for business and taking her children and grandchildren on cruises and vacations. Estella was a caregiver to many family members and never hesitated helping anyone in need. She touched many lives with her generous heart. Survivors include her son, Dennis J. Meech and partner, Barb Kirk, of Ft. Scott, grandchildren, Chris and CJae Meech of Ft. Scott, Cody and Taysha Meech of Canyon, Texas, and daughter-in-law, Diane Meech; also her son, James W. Meech and wife, Marita, of Ft. Scott and grandchildren, JW Meech of Canyon, Texas and Elizabeth Meech of Borger, Texas. Also surviving are a sister, Lela Ann Gier, of Ft. Scott, sisters-in-law, Juell “Julie” Ross of Topeka, Kansas, Joyce Meech, of Ft. Scott, Geneva Gier of Girard, Kansas, and Itha Jean Turitine, of Topeka, Kansas, and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Charley and Merle Gier and a sister, Opal Gier. Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct funeral services at 10:00 A.M. Friday, August 16th at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 P.M. Thursday at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Alzheimer’s Association and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
