Gary Estes

Gary Tren Estes, 87, loving and devoted husband of Delores Estes, passed away Sunday, March 4, 2018, at St. Clare Hospital in Fenton, Missouri.

Gary was known by his many friends and family as a "gentleman," who cared for and respected others through his words and deeds.

He was born Feb. 16, 1931, in Cape Girardeau to the late Trennis Paul and Lillie Mae Baker Estes.

Growing up in Lutesville, Missouri, Gary was active in Boys Scouts throughout his teenage years, achieving Eagle Scout and attending Philmont Scout Ranch in 1951. He graduated from Southeast Missouri State College in 1952 with a bachelor of science degree in education.

He and Delores Estes started a 64-year-long journey together March 7, 1953, when they were married at the Southeast Missouri State College Baptist Student Union. They met while students at Southeast and were married after graduating in 1952, while Gary served in the U.S. Air Force at Hamilton Air Force Base, California.

After completing his initial enlistment in 1955, Gary and Delores started the next phase of their lives back in Cape Girardeau, followed by 10 years in Sikeston, Missouri. In Sikeston, Gary worked with the Missouri Department of Transportation until 1959, when he began a 30-year career as an insurance adjuster with GAB Business Services. His job as an insurance adjuster would take them to the Virgin Islands; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Memphis, Tennessee; Columbia, Missouri; and St. Louis before retiring in 1989 and returning to Cape Girardeau, where they resided since.

In retirement, Gary was an active member of Hobbs Chapel United Methodist Church, the Masonic Lodge and the Cape Girardeau Senior Center. He provided leadership and strategic planning while serving on the Hobbs Chapel board of trustees, the board of directors for the Cape Senior Center and the Will Mayfield Heritage Foundation in Bollinger County. He was a member of the Masonic High Twelve Club and volunteered at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau for more than 10 years.

He and Delores spent many enjoyable retirement years traveling in Europe and RVing throughout Missouri, Virginia, Florida and Texas with his brother and sisters-in-law, Howard and Helen Reynolds and Margie and Ray Waldrup. The three couples frequently migrated south to Texas and Florida for the winter, spending time playing cards, sightseeing, listening to music and enjoying life.

Gary is survived by four loving nephews, their wives and children, Lonnie and Donna Waldrup of Scott City, Scott and Beth Reynolds of Sikeston, Doug and Kay Reynolds of Nashville, Tennessee, and Randy and Janet Reynolds of Nashua, New Hampshire; and a great-nephew, Sam (Jennifer) Reynolds of Memphis.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Delores Estes, and his parents.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Chapel Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Hobbs Chapel United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Stan Hargis officiating. Entombment will be at Cape County Memorial Park Mausoleum in Cape Girardeau.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Cape Girardeau Senior Center.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.