Esther Maryetta Edwards Frazier passed away in Treynor, IA at the age of 92 on June 12, 2011 after an extended illness.

Esther was born December 13, 1918, to Elmer and Mary (Mullen) Edwards on a farm south of Cumberland, IA. Her mother died when Esther was 4 months old. She was then raised by her father and her Grandma Edwards. Her Grandma died on Christmas Day when she was seven. Later, in the attic, when she was reading her Grandma's Bible, she read "about another world," which piqued her interest.
Eager to learn, Esther begged to start school at age 4 and attended first through 8th grades in the country school just across the road from the family farm. She transferred to and graduated from Atlantic High School in 1935 at the age of 16, her senior year. She also worked for Judge Kent Martens' family. After graduation, she worked two years for Drs. Emil and Millard Petersen in Atlantic. While she was working on Sundays for the doctors, she watched families go to church, and her desire became "to marry a farmer, have four kids, and raise them in the church."

Esther married Dale Frazier on June 2, 1937, at the Edwards' family farm home. The couple moved to a farm near Griswold and resided there all their married lives. She loved the farm and helped to raise hogs, cattle, and chickens as well as doing the bookkeeping. After Dale was in a farm accident in 1957, she kept the farm running and family going. She spent years nursing Dale back to health. Esther lived on the Frazier farm for 73 years until this past November.
Esther was a member of the Central Church of Christ in Griswold, active in the Ladies Circle, and a Bible study group. She also was a 4-H leader, a member of the Neighborhood Club, Griswold Child Psychology Club, Griswold Optimist Club, and was a Cass County Hospice volunteer. Esther won many awards as an Avon sales representative and was widely known throughout the state through her enterprise at Flea Markets and Craft Fairs. She also worked as a nurse's aide at the Griswold Care Center and the Heritage House in Atlantic for a few years. She loved to learn new things and to help people. She made, sold, and gave away scores of cinnamon rolls, pecan rolls, tea rings, pickles, and mints. Over the years, she made leather purses, hanging lamps, centerpieces, embroidered pillow cases, knitted sweaters, and also crocheted special tablecloths for each granddaughter. She was always ready to bake dishes and desserts for those who were sick or grieving. If she was needed, she would drop everything to attend to the needs of her family and others. Her giving spirit is a great legacy to her family.

Esther is survived by her children: Karen Braden (Jim) of Visalia, CA; Judy Guttau (Mick) of Treynor, IA; Morrie Frazier (Bev) of Clovis, CA; and Katherine Luedke (Spencer) of Virginia Beach, VA. Grandchildren: Staci Copley (Kent) of Moses Lake, WA; Scott Braden (Cheryl) of Visalia, CA; Heidi Guttau-Fox (Rick) of Minden, IA; Joshua Guttau (Shelly) of Treynor IA; Ryan Frazier (Brandy) of Clovis, CA; Molly Mandal (Sal) of Clovis, CA; and granddaughter-in-law, Amanda Luedke of Virginia Beach, VA. Great-grandchildren: Tori and Britni Copley; Hannah and Micah Braden; Brock, Blake, and Emmersen Fox; Joslyn and Dane Guttau; Star'Onna and Shianne Harvey; Mason and Jacey Frazier; Jayden and Sadie Mandal, and Cameron, Breeley, and Ella Luedke.

Preceding Esther in death were her parents, two brothers: Bernard and Alfred, husband Dale in 1998, great-granddaughter, Mya Guttau, in 2009, and grandson, Dillon Luedke in 2009.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 18, 2011 at 11:00 AM at the Central Church of Christ in Griswold. Open visitation will be at the Duhn Funeral Home in Griswold until 2:00PM Friday and then at the Central Church of Christ at 3:00 PM where the family will be present from 6:00 to 8:00 Friday evening.

Memorials may be directed to Deaf Missions - Council Bluffs, IA