Esther Mae Irwin

Esther Mae Irwin, 87, of Hume, Mo., passed away Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016, at St. Luke's East, in Lee's Summit, Mo. She was born June 12, 1929, to James and Velie Strain Bowen in Nevada, Mo.

She married Merritt "Doc" Irwin and together they raised a family of seven. They lived in Nevada, Rich Hill, Stotesbury and Kansas City before settling down in Hume.

Esther worked at KU Medical Center, Peerless and for the Hume School doing janitorial work and helping in the kitchen. She babysat and always had a hand in raising Amanda, Wesley, Deanna and Kimberley Dale as she became their Grandma Esther.

She was known as Ma Kettle who was always cleaning and cooking. Her cabinets were always full of home canned fruits and vegetables and her freezers full of chickens and rabbits.

Esther is survived by five sons, Keith Clinton Irwin and wife, Linda, of Hume, Mo., Braxton Eldon Irwin and wife, Harriet, of Balch Springs, Texas, Mark Wayne Irwin, Everett Ogden Irwin and wife, Karen, of Hume, Mo., and Terry Lynn Irwin of Hume, Mo.; two daughters, Tina Marise Conner of Lind, Wash., and Roberlie Rene' Morales of Hume, Mo.; one brother, Kenneth Bowen and wife, Renata, of Independence, Mo.; two sisters, Ellen Yurk and Doris Whalan, both of Nevada, Mo.; 25 grandchildren; 46 great-grandchildren, plus two on the way; and 16 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Merritt Clinton "Doc" Irwin in 2010; sons-in-law, Michael Conner and Abel Morales; daughter-in-law, Dorothy Irwin; one great-great-grandson, David Taylor; three brothers, John, Gene, and Jerome Bowen; and a sister, Lucille King.

Memorial services are 1 p.m., today, at Hume United Methodist Church, in Hume, Mo. Visitation was held from 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, at Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel, in Butler, Mo.

Contributions may be made to Hume Baptist Church. Online condolences may be made at www.schowengerdtchapel.com.