Esther Avon Wilson

Esther Avon (Hendrix) Wilson was born April 2, 1925, in Lobster Valley, Oregon. She was the youngest daughter and last surviving child of Josephine Esther (Wilson) Hendrix and Walter Burkham Hendrix. She was preceded in death by five sisters, Bessie Rossman, Ruth Mutschler, Gladys Haley, Amy Stone, and Lois Coburn, and six brothers Marion, Robert, Fred, Harold, Harley and Kenneth Hendrix. She attended Hazel Glen Grade school in Lobster Valley, and graduated from Alsea High School in 1943. She worked at various jobs in Eugene, Oregon, until her father passed away in 1948. At that time, she came back home to care for her mother for the next nine years. Esther married Keith Wilson Sept. 20, 1957, in Lobster Valley, where they raised their four children and made their home for 50 years, except for a brief period in Trinidad, Colorado. Keith passed away Dec. 16, 2007 and Esther moved to Corvallis in March 2008. She was a member of the Church of Christ in Lobster Valley, where she had served as church secretary/treasurer for 18 years. Esther had open heart surgery in May 1970 to repair heart damage caused by rheumatic fever and again in January 2010 to replace and repair valves. After each health setback, she worked to regain her strength and continued to live independently. She enjoyed all babies, her flowers, canning, picking wild blackberries, and looking for lady slippers (calypso orchids) with her husband and family. Survivors include her children Laurie (and Dennis) Corliss, Ron (and Toni) Wilson, Linda Leslie, and Kathy (and Bruce) Hammond. Grandchildren are David, Brandon, Carrie, Mandi, Danny, Steven, Jeni, Leanna, Jeremiah, Ben, Alyssa, and Theresa. Great-grandchildren are Malaki, Devon, Ally, Wilson, Noah, Lillie, Tila, Madi, Kori, Kaden, Kindi, Oliver, Evan, Theodore, Reve, Esther, and Dain. She is also survived by brother-in-law Paul Wilson, brother-in-law Ernest Coburn, and sister-in-law Jean Hendrix Russell. Little ones were very special to Esther. If you wish to honor her with a donation, please consider an organization that serves children. A graveside service will be held at 2:00 pm Saturday, January 26 at Lobster Valley Cemetery.

Tributes

Esther Avon Wilson

April 2, 1925 - January 19, 2019