Mary Louise Estes, 84, of Cape Girardeau passed away Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016, at Chateau Girardeau, surrounded by loved ones.

Mary was born March 5, 1932, in Atchison, Kansas, to Senator F. Steadman and Eleanor Ball. She was the eldest of three girls, followed by Susan and Nancy.

Mary loved music. At the age of 3, she began playing the piano and continued to play for 80 years. She and her younger sister, Susan, used to play and sing together. Mary would play piano and sing some, and Susan would sing and play violin. Mary played piano for her middle- and high-school choirs and a local dance studio.

Mary attended Atchison High School, was a debutante and graduated in 1950. She continued her education in Topeka, Kansas, at Washburn University, where she graduated with a degree in sociology in 1954. Mary married her high-school sweetheart, James Carl Estes, later that same year.

When her husband's job with J.C. Penney moved them to Lawrence, Kansas, she worked briefly at the University of Kansas. Mary remained an avid Jayhawk fan until her death.

In 1956, James, Mary and their 1-year-old son, David, moved to Cape Girardeau. For a while, Mary used her degree and worked as a social worker. Their family added three more children over the next seven years: Sandra, Daniel and Richard. Mary remained very involved in the local community over the next six decades.

Mary was a charter member of the local PEO Chapter, JN, of which her daughter and granddaughter are also members. Shortly after they moved, she helped start Westminster Presbyterian Church in Cape Girardeau, where she was a choir director and youth leader prior to attending Abbey Road Christian Church. Since then, Mary faithfully attended Abbey Road Christian Church, where she sang in the choir. Mary also helped found the Cape Girardeau Evening Lions Club, where she was active until 2015.

When her daughter and son-in-law started SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau and Scott Counties in 1992, Mary became their first secretary and continued to work there until October 2015.

Mary loved teaching music. She taught piano and organ at Shivelbines years ago, and she taught private piano lessons out of her home for 60 years. Composing music was also a hobby of hers, and her church group performed several of her pieces. She also sang in a community choir called the Sweet Adelines for a number of years.

Those that know and love Mary will remember her for her love of music, her wit and her caring nature. Mary always was asking how she could help. She was a friend to many and will be greatly missed.

She is survived by her sister, Nancy Youngman and Bill; sister-in-law, Joy (Estes) Cole; brother-in-law, Harley Brown; her four children, son David Estes and Elizabeth of Chesterfield, Missouri, daughter Sandy (Estes) Hastings and Richard of Jackson, son, Daniel Estes and Anne of Wentzville, Missouri, and son Richard Estes and Cindy of Webster Groves, Missouri; 18 grandchildren, Kristin Estes Messey and Dale, Joe Estes, Kelly Estes Hoelscher and Jason, Andy Estes and Brittany, Brittany Hastings Davenport and Mac, Hayley Estes, Helene Estes, Sara Hastings Wingate, Alex Brockman and Catherine, Olivia Brockman, Cori Radetic and Travis, and Ashli Durham; nine great-grandchildren, Samuel, August, Kinley, Hunter, Roslyn, Alexis, Joshua, Ty and Brandon; great-nephew, Aaron Repp; and other relatives.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Senator Francis Steadman and Eleanor Margaret Campbell Ball; sister, Susan Ball Brown; niece, Tana Brown Repp; and grandson, Kendal Brian Hastings.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon Friday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

The funeral service will be at noon Friday at the funeral home, with pastor Jeff Long and Mac Davenport officiating. Burial will be at Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Abbey Road Christian Church.

Special thanks to the compassionate care staff at Chateau Girardeau and Southeast Hospice.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.