Katherine E. “Kate” Estes

Katherine Estes passed away March 4, 2021 at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Michigan, where she was born 79 years earlier.

She was the second of seven born to John Bowlby and Alice Jane Brattin.

Kate married Marvin Frederick Estes in Potsdam, NY in 1965 and happily settled down to being a wife and mother.

Even her family was not fully aware of all her generous deeds until others shared stories of her kind acts. Kate loved babies and small children, and she loved to babysit whenever she could. She was fascinated with the postal service and always enjoyed sending and receiving letters. She learned that to get letters, you needed to write them. So Kate became a talented and frequent writer to people all over the country. This last year she was able to send 147 Christmas cards even though she suffered with advanced Parkinson’s. She also enjoyed walking and would walk around the neighborhood finding more people to get to know. She was able to fulfill her childhood goal of traveling to all 50 states many years ago.

Kate was predeceased by her parents and older brother John David Brattin. Survivors include her husband, son Ralph Estes and his wife Heidi, daughter Anna Estes and two granddaughters Tabatha Estes and Tatum Estes. She is also survived by 4 sisters and a brother, Nancy, CJ, Helen, Stella, and Joel.

The funeral for Kate will be held 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at the Cedar Street Church 1705 Cedar St, Holt, MI 48842. The family will receive friends at the church on Wednesday one hour prior to the funeral. Arrangements are by the Estes-Leadley Holt/Delhi Chapel. People are welcome to watch the service via live stream by following this link: http://cedarstreetchurch.org/boxcast-streaming-channel/.