Morton Bern "Mort" Estes Sr., 93, formerly of the Cape Girardeau area, died Oct. 28, 2014, in Ozark, Missouri.
He was born Sept 15, 1921, in Cape Girardeau, son of Roland Bern Sr. and Grace Rebecca Morton Estes. Morton and Lillian "Sally" Roberts were married July 3, 1943, at her family home. Lillian passed away March 12, 2005.
Mort started attending Franklin Grade School in Cape Girardeau the day it first opened in 1927. He then attended Central High School in Cape and graduated in 1938.
He attended Southeast Missouri State University for three years. In 1942, after his marriage to Lillian, they moved to St. Louis where Mort started his career in Manufacturing Engineering at Century Electric Co. He completed his formal engineering education at Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Wisconsin at Madison, Wisconsin.
In 1945, he relocated to Sunnen Products Co. in St. Louis where he was employed for 37 years in various engineering positions until his retirement as chief engineer and director of mechanical research and development in 1982. During their 37 years in St. Louis, Mort and Sally attended First Baptist Church of Affton and raised their family.
Mort was a registered professional manufacturing engineer, and a life member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. After his retirement in 1982, Mort and Sally moved to Jackson where they lived for 18 years and were members of First Baptist Church of Jackson. In 2000, they moved to a duplex in Saxony Village at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. In November 2010, Mort moved to the Baptist Home in Ozark, Missouri, to be closer to family.
Survivors include a daughter, Patricia Ann Garrison and husband, Dennis of Branson, Missouri; a grandson, Drew Garrison; and great-granddaughter, Rowen Garrison, both of Springfield, Missouri; a son, Donald Lee Estes; and granddaughter, Lauren Estes, both of Memphis, Tennessee.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; a son, Morton B. Estes Jr.; a brother, Roland B. "Bud" Estes Jr. of Cape Girardeau; and a great-grandson, Benjamin Garrison of Springfield.
Friends may call from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.
The funeral will be at noon Saturday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Lucas Clabough officiating.
Burial will be at Cape County Memorial Park in Cape Girardeau.
Memorial contributions may be given to First Baptist Church of Jackson.
Online condolences may be made at fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.
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