Esther L. Devenport

Esther L. Devenport, 88, formerly of Burfordville, passed away Friday, Aug. 22, 2014, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau.

She was born Feb. 3, 1926, in Whitewater to Hugo H. and Amanda Fluegge Sebastian.

She and Hubert Devenport were married April 15, 1945, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tilsit. They had been married 39 years when he passed away May 23, 1984.

Esther was a 1943 graduate of Jackson High School. She and Hubert raised their five children on the family farm near Burfordville.

She instilled a love of reading and a strong work ethic in them.They remember her for her strong faith in God and a deep love for her family.

Esther was an active member of Christ Lutheran Church in Gordonville and a former member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tilsit. She also was an avid gardener, an accomplished seamstress and a loyal supporter of local Republican politics.

Upon moving to Saxony Village, she enjoyed the company of many new friends and retained her matriarchal status in the family.

Loving survivors include five children, Ron Devenport and wife Wanda of St. Charles, Missouri, Jerry Devenport and wife Jill of Renton, Washington, Vicki Devenport and husband Ed Nelson of Webster Groves, Missouri, Kathryn Rabold and husband Dennis of Dixon, Missouri, and Carolyn Whitener and husband Dewayne of Jackson; 15 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; four siblings, Freeman Sebastian and wife Shirley of Jackson, Elmer Sebastian of Ferguson, Missouri, Nelson Sebastian and wife Elvira of Jackson and Jean Eftink and husband Mike of Wappapello, Missouri.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and two brothers, Norman and Walter Sebastian.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the chapel of McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson and from noon to service time Monday at Christ Lutheran Church in Gordonville.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Monday at the church, with the Rev. Gary Hoffstetter officiating.

Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to Christ Lutheran Church or Cemetery, or the American Cancer Society.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting mccombsfuneralhome.com.