Funeral services were held in the Wilmore Methodist church on Tuesday and were in charge of Rev. Bennett, pastor of the Wilmore Christian church, Earl Bigbee and his sister, Mrs. Edith Hecht of Wichita, sang "Nearer to Thee" and a mixed quartet composed of Mrs. Fay Moberly, Mrs. Arthur Barber, Marvin Belcher and Nick Baker sang "Does Jesus Care" and Beautiful Isle of Somewhere." Pallbearers were Fay Moberly, Alvah York, Alva Trummel, Bernarr Seaman, Edward Baker and C. V. Lott. Burial was in the Wilmore cemetery.

Esther Irene Ferrin was born near Wilmore, Kans., on December 30, 1903, and passed away at the home of her sister, Mrs. Nellie Ely, in Bethany, Okla. on November 14, 1942, at 1:15 p.m. at the age of 38 years, 10 months and 15 days.

She was the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Loren Ferrin of Wilmore. At the age of nine years she moved with her parents to Wilmore, where she attended school, graduating from the Wilmore high school, she was employed for one year at Richardson's store in Wilmore, then attended Ottawa University for two years, after which she taught the Ridge Summit School for two terms.

Esther became a member of the Baptist church at Wilmore in 1918 and later transferred her membership to the Methodist church. She was a faithful worker in the Sunday school and church as long as her health permitted.

On August 22, 1926 she was united in marriage with Ray E. Bigbee of Wilmore. To this union five children were born, one of whom preceded her in death.

She leaves to mourn her passing, her husband, Ray E. Bigbee, and four children, Norma Lee, Joan Marie, Bill Ray and Jerry Wayne, all of the home; her mother, Mrs. Loren Ferrin, of Wilmore; two brothers and two sisters, E. L. Ferrin of Wilmore, Walter W. Ferrin of Coldwater, Mrs. Maude Watkins of Wilmore and Mrs. Nellie Ely of Bethany, Okla; also a number of nieces and nephews and one great-niece, besides a number of other relatives and a host of friends. Her father preceded her in death on September 7, 1921.

Mrs. Bigbee's illness extended over a long period of time. On October 3, 1942 she was taken to her sister's home in Bethany, Okla., for further medical treatment, but to no avail. Although her suffering was great, she was always patient and cheerful.

She will be greatly missed in her home and by her friends, but our loss is her gain, for her Lord has called her home.

The birthday cake was decorated with candy flowers and a candle for each ten years that has passed. Mrs. Ferrin is now 72 years of age and is enjoying reasonably good health.

Those present were Ernest Ferrin and family, Esther Bigbee and family, Walter Ferrin and family and Nelly Ely and family. This is all of the children except Maude, who now lives in Ohio.

Esther Ferrin was born 30 Dec 1903 (after this photo was taken) to Loren and Alcana (Wagner) Ferrin at the Ferrin homestead in West Powell Township five miles northeast of Wilmore, Comanche County, Kansas, the fifth of their five children.
 

Children of Loren & Alcana (Wagner) Ferrin:
Maude Mae (Ferrin) Watkins   (19 Sept 1884 - 9 Dec 1961)
Ernest Leroy Ferrin   (8 Feb 1886 - 13 May 1974)
Nellie Mabel (Ferrin) Ely   (17 Nov 1888 - 13 Feb 1975)
Walter William Ferrin (6 Dec 1895 - 26 August 1975)
Esther Irene (Ferrin) Bigbee   (30 Dec 1903 - 14 Nov 1942)

Richard Duane Bigbee, son of Esther (Ferrin) Bigbee.

Loren & Alcana (Wagner) Ferrin   Parents of Esther Ferrin.

Alcana Ferrin   Mother of Esther Ferrin.

Arthur & Alice (Eyerly) Ferrin   Uncle and Aunt of Esther Ferrin.

Reuben & Hannah Philura (Murch) Ferrin   Grandparents of Esther Ferrin.

How Loren & Arthur Ferrin Came to Comanche County, Kansas

Mary A. (Horner) Wagner   Maternal Grandmother of Esther Ferrin.

A Brief History of Newton, New Hampshire (A New Chronology of the Life & Times of Jonathan Farren)
Esther Irene Ferrin was an 7th generation descendant of Capt. Jonathan Farren of Amesbury, MA, & Newton, NH, as follows: Esther Ferrin 7, Loren Ferrin 6, Reuben Ferrin 5, Zebulon Ferrin 4, Zebulon Ferrin 3, Zebulon Farren 2, Jonathan Farren 1.

Ferrin Gravestones in the North Jay Cemetery, Essex County, New York.

Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding and transcribing Esther Ferrin's obituary! This RootsWeb website is being created by Jerry Ferrin with the able assistance of many Contributors. Your comments, suggestions and contributions of historical information and photographs to this site are welcome. Please sign the Guest Book.

This page was last updated 11 Jan 2004.