Esther Petitt

Esther Marie Petitt, 85, of Cape Girardeau passed away Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, at the Chaffee Nursing Center in Chaffee, Missouri.

Esther was born March 16, 1935, in Greenville, Mississippi, the daughter of the late Thomas and Esther Eubanks Mann. She first married Jesse Kelley, who passed away in 1997. Her second marriage was to Marion Petitt, who passed away in 2007.

Esther was a graduate of Thebes (Illinois) High School. She worked in health care for many years, retiring from Parkwood Manor in 2007.

Esther loved telling stories and spending time with her family watching westerns. She was a proud member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary in McClure, Illinois.

Loving survivors include two daughters, Nicole Petitt of Cape Girardeau and Deborah Kennedy of Chaffee; three sons, Steve Kelley of Jackson, Mark (Patricia) Kelley of Cape Girardeau and Doug (Mary) Kelley of St. Charles, Missouri; sister, Evelyn (Joe) Stocks of Florida; brother, Thomas (Naomi) Mann of Tamms, Illinois; her best friend, Sharon White of Fredericktown, Missouri; along with friends, Wayne Baltzelle, Jake Wagnor and Jeanne Owens.

Also surviving are nine grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren

In addition to her parents and husbands, Esther was preceded in death by a sister, Margaret Neatherly; son, Donald Kelley; and daughter, Jessica Kelley.

A memorial service will be held at a later date

Cremation was accorded by McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

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