Services for Emily Fay (Medley) Estess will be Sunday March 25, 2018, 2:00 PM at Davis Morris Funeral Home with burial to follow at Cedar Point Cemetery. Visitation will be held March 24, 2018 5-7 PM at the Funeral Home.
Emily Fay passed into eternal rest on Thursday, March 22, 2018. She was born on April 5, 1921 to Robert Henry and Mary Louise (Sorrels) Medley at their rural home near Trickham, Tx. When her father died in 1923, Mary married Dave Harrington, he raised her and sister Louise along with their half siblings. Times were hard and rural families scraped to get by. Being the oldest daughter at home, she never got to finish high school but instead worked alongside her mother and siblings to make ends meet and put food on the table. At 18, she married Robert Lee (RL) Estess on December 2, 1939. They both held various jobs thru war time, including operating the café and gas station across from the Brookesmith School. Ultimately they both ended up working at Brookesmith School driving buses, where she also served as head luncheon lady. Over the course of several decades working at the school, she drove multiple generations of families to school, as well as fed them daily. Her style of cooking was old fashioned homestyle and a favorite to serve up was fried chicken.
Emily Fay was a lifetime member of Brookesmith Baptist Church, where her mother Mary was a founding charter member of it. Being baptized as a young girl in the murky waters of Clear Creek, she was the oldest surviving member of the current church.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and siblings. Survivors include daughters Janie Boenicke and husband Edwin of Brownwood and Laura Connaway and husband John of Brookesmith. Survived also by grandsons Justin Haynes and wife Jennifer of Woodbury MN, Brian Connaway and wife Marla of Katy TX, step grandchildren Cyndi Zagorski of Early and Conice Boenicke of Del Rio, TX. Great-grandchildren are Garrett and Rose Haynes, David, Calob and Brandon Boenicke, Megan and Colin Boenicke. She is survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Deep gratitude to the care and compassion she received over the years she was a resident at Songbird Nursing Home in Brownwood.
If so desired in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her name to Brookesmith School. Please contact Linda Barksdale at 325-643-3023 for donation information.