Esther Ernestine Stuart

Esther Ernestine Stuart, 91 of Manhattan, formerly of Nickerson, died Tuesday, February 26, at the Alma Manor Nursing Center, Alma, Kansas. Esther was born September 27, 1921 at Arlington, Kansas to Glenn and Faye (Secrest) Van Riper. She attended grade school at Langdon, Kansas and her high school education at Nickerson High School. On December 31, 1941, she married her high school classmate, Robert Stuart. They lived on and farmed the same homestead for 47 years. Esther was a longtime member of the Nickerson United Methodist Church and the Senior Center. She later moved to Manhattan to be closer to her family members. She is preceded in death by her husband in 1988; her friend and companion Norman Cowell in 2005; her parents; a brother, Leon Van Riper; a toddler sister, Luella; a son, Douglas; and a grandson, Robbie. Survivors include a son, Roger (Brenda) of Denton, Texas; a daughter, Tnya Bachamp (Richard) of Manhattan, Kansas; grandchildren, Mary Stuart-Leighthiser (Roy) of Ft. Gordon, Georgia, Anita Hesselberg (Greg) of Boca Raton, Florida, Todd Bachamp and Roman Bachamp (Sandra) of Kansas City, Kansas, Stuart Bachamp of Manhattan, Kansas and Susan Porter (Tom) of San Antonio, Texas; seven great-grandchildren, sister: Wilma Jean Pennick, Hutchinson daughters-in-law, Carol Stuart of Crescent City, Florida, and Rhea Stuart Erickson of Irene, South Dakota. A memorial service will be announced at a later date. Memorials may be left to the Nickerson United Methodist Church, 8200 N Riverton Rd Nickerson, Kansas 67561 or Seven Dolors Food Pantry, 731 Pierre St Manhattan, Kansas 66502.