Esther Valentina Jaimes Hernandez

Esther Valentina Jaimes Hernandez was born Feb. 14, 1923, in Ottawa, Kan. Born to Jose and Pilar Jaimes, she was the last survivor of seven children (four brothers and two sisters). Growing up in Kansas and for brief periods in Northern Mexico, the family settled in Ottawa and Esther graduated from Ottawa High School. Then fate intervened on a potato farm in Kansas, when she met Guadalupe “Lupe” Hernandez (one of 11 siblings). The war in Europe stepped in with Lupe serving in the Army Air Force while Esther aided the war effort by learning to drive a 4x4 truck at the munitions plant. Love wins, the couple is reunited, and they were married Oct. 9, 1945. As a civil service family with their two sons, they made home in Topeka, Kan., Mobile, Ala., and finally Memphis, Tenn. She was a master seamstress and went to work in sales for Singer Sewing Machines. Prior to the death of her husband Lupe, she enjoyed road trips, camping trips, and vacations with family. After the death of Lupe in 1989, she turned her sights to dancing and became a member of the Stepping Out Dancers, performing all around Memphis for several years. She also continued to travel the world with her siblings, with trips to Finland, Switzerland, France, and Italy just to name a few. The freedom to drive herself ended in 2014, and her life took a more leisurely turn as she lived near her sons in both Arkansas and Florida. She spent her later years in Manila, where she recently celebrated her 100th birthday! She loved the Lord and her family and is happily dancing with many of them in heaven today!

She leaves behind her two sons, Frank Hernandez (Yvonne) and John “Lupe Jr” (Barbara); grandchildren, Michelle Mattila (Keith), Heather Maloney (Brian), Carmen Wildy (Marshall), Joe Hernandez, Shawn Haddock (Courtney), Amber Mason (Scott), Johnny G. Hernandez (Katelynn), Danielle Everard (Caleb); great-grandchildren, Emely Pena, Ethan Green, Jacob Tyler, Abby Bourland, Keith Mattila Jr., Asher Maloney, Shawn Haddock Jr., Millie Haddock, and Luna Rose Hernandez.

Visitation will be from 1-2 p.m. Saturday, May 27, at Memorial Park Funeral Home, 5668 Poplar Ave., Memphis. Services will follow at 2 p.m.