Esther Lucille (Smith) Kiester, 82Esther Lucille (Smith) Kiester, 82, most recently of Monon, Indiana, received her final reward in the arms of her heavenly Father at 1:15 am on September 14, 2016 while being lovingly cared for at St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Delphi, Indiana, from complications from an extended and gallant fight with cancer. She was born on February 25, 1934 and raised in Goshen, Indiana, and graduated from Goshen High School in 1952. She married her high school sweetheart, Ron Kiester, on December 26, 1954 in Goshen and had two children, Kent (Kathy) Kiester of Monon and Karyn (Kiester) McDaniel of Moore Haven, Florida who currently is on a teaching assignment in Beijing, China. She has four grandchildren, Kristal (Eric) Gramelspacher of Lafayette, Kevin Kiester also of Lafayette, Emily Thalls of Muncie, and Ellen Thalls of Fort Myers, Florida. She also has three step-grandchildren Jennessa (Andrew) Johnston, Carissa (Austin) Deeney, and Michael (Erica) McDaniel and has thirteen great-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Sam & Goldie Smith of Goshen, her husband Ron of Peru, Indiana, a niece, Pamela Yoder of Nappanee, Indiana, her partner of nearly thirty years, Harlan Egan of Middletown, Indiana, and one of her "special girls," Tina Waters of Sand Lake, Michigan. She is also survived by a sister, Phyllis Yoder of West Lafayette, a niece, Jill Rene (Chuck) Herber, also of West Lafayette, and a nephew, Denny (Deb) Yoder of Colorado Springs, Colorado.Esther worked all of her life; as a school secretary in both Nappanee and Elkhart, selling real estate and working at the Midway Motor Lodge in Elkhart, as a secretary to the Elkhart City Police Department, and for 911 at the Henry County Sheriff's Department in New Castle where she eventually retired at age 77! Her true passion, though, was helping others. She had a kind word, a sweet spirit, and loving arms for those in need, including some special girls in her life - Tina and Linda from Nappanee and Jessi and Brianna from Middletown. When she wasn't tending to other's needs, she could be found tending to her beautiful flower gardens in every home she ever lived in. She was a 'rock hound' and a lover of all things "pretty," and she will be remembered for her flair for making the world a "prettier place," be it her artistic talents, her flair for decorating and interior design, her flower gardens, or sewing clothes and doll outfits for her grandchildren. Indeed, she was a faithful, spiritual woman who loved gospel music and who set a prayerful example for all who knew her. In addition, she loved to travel and she documented her children's and grandchildren's lives in countless scrapbooks that are memories to be treasured forever by her family. She had many close and special friends that she endeared over the years: from high school friends in Goshen, to many close friends during her early married years in Nappanee, and many more friends on through her later years in Elkhart, New Castle, and Middletown - and those friendships endured to her last days. She will be fondly remembered by all who knew her from her incredible warmth and kindness.A private family gathering at 9:00 am will precede an open memorial celebration of her life from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at Hartzler-Clapper Funeral Home in Brookston, Indiana on Tuesday, September 20. A small graveside service with internment to follow will be at the Green Hills Memory Gardens just west of New Castle, Indiana at 4:00 pm, which will be officiated by Marty Ballard of Ballard & Sons Funeral Home of Middletown, Indiana. Memorial contributions may be made to one's local animal shelter or Humane Society of choice, as Esther was also a great lover of animals and "adopted" many of them throughout her life. She will be greatly missed by all.Share memories and condolences online at www.clapperfuneralservices.com.