Esther Minnette Kellmer

Esther Chappell Sigurdson Kellmer, fourth child and only daughter of Herman and Grace Chappell, was born in Philomath, Oregon August 14, 1922 and passed away at Salem Hospital on January 5, 2019 at age 96. She grew up in the Toledo, Newport, Corvallis, and Independence areas with older brothers Russell, Howard and Gerald who predeceased her. The home they shared in Independence has now become the Pink House Restaurant there. She lived in her own home in Keizer until mid December 2018 when she moved to an assisted living facility.

After graduating from Corvallis High School she attended Cascade College in Portland and Prairie Bible Institute near Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Esther then returned to Oregon and moved to Salem where she got her first apartment .  She was employed as an orthodontic assistant when she met Frank Sigurdson. They married in 1960 and she became the wife of a fruit farmer in Keizer. The years on the farm were a happy time for her. In addition to growing peaches, cherries and berries she and Frank raised cows, goats, chickens and pigs and she loved each and every one, giving most of them names. The Sigurdson home was large and they hosted many holiday family gatherings. Esther even had a Sunday school class for the neighborhood kids who wanted to come and participate. She was a good teacher and made learning about the Bible fun. Esther and Frank shared a good life until he passed away from lung cancer in 1980.

Seven years later Esther married Dell Kellmer who had lost his wife and retired from his employment in Henderson, Nevada. Their greatest enjoyments together included traveling in their RV, visiting friends and relatives, gathering information on family for future writing projects, attending Keizer Community Church together, puttering around their home and yard, feeding the birds on their deck and watching the new babies appear in the nest each spring - she was convinced the same two parents returned each year and she named them Peter and Pricilla. And of course they spoiled each and every dog they owned - especially Little Abby who was a sweet and faithful friend to both of them.  Dell passed away in November 2018.

Esther was a very talented writer, and throughout her life wrote many poems and short stories and her Christmas letters were always a Joy to receive. She wrote "A Sister Recalls the Life's Story of her Brother Howard and the Childhood Memories They Share" in 2002; her autobiography called "The Highlights of a Happy Life" was written in 2007; "The Scrapbook of Pictures for my Life Story" was written in 2009;and her most recent project was began in 2016, entitled "When and Where the Chappells Meet and Mingle with the Starrs". This last story is a history of her family dating back to the mid-1800s.  Esther said it was the most rewarding challenge she ever had writing a story and she had completed over 300 pages. Sadly, that story will never be finished even though she was still writing until a month before her passing.

Esther is survived by her niece, Louise Martin and husband Larry Martin of Salem and their son Chandler Martin of Las Vegas, NV; two stepdaughters, Jean Moffet of Brooks and Shirley Edmiston of Sunlakes, Arizona and Little Abby.   Esther was a very sweet lady and truly loved people. To her way of thinking most everyone was "a wonderful  person".

On behalf of the family, thank you to Grace, Sabina, Irene and Lupe for their wonderful care during the last years of Esther's life. And Anna Mae, Esther considered you her best friend, thank you for your typing skills, deciphering Esther's writing and putting her words on paper when her eyesight failed.

Services for Esther held on Monday, January 14, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. here at the Keizer Funeral Chapel.