Esther Fisher

Monday, May 24, 2010
Esther Fisher

Esther Zua Fisher passed away May 20, 2010.

A viewing will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 25, at Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel. Funeral Services will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 26, at Rost Funeral Home and burial will follow at Mountain View Cemetery in Mountain Home.

Esther was born in Declo, Idaho, on Sept. 17, 1921, to Joel Eugene and Zua Stella Hunt. She was the oldest of eight children. Esther's family moved from Paul, where her father farmed and raised horses, to Mountain Home, when she was in the seventh grade.

Esther and R. Ray Fisher were married on Christmas Day in 1938. They farmed in Mountain Home.

She loved to fish, picnic with her family and travel. Esther dearly loved all her children and said that they were her greatest achievement.

While Esther started out as a farmer's wife and mother of six, she continued to expand her horizons into the business and professional world while caring for her family.

She began a career with Mountain States Telephone Company as chief operator before Mountain Home "went dial," and then worked in the business office until it closed. She retired after 32 years of service. During that time, she joined the Business and Professional Women's Club and went on to serve as an officer for the State of Idaho, traveling to many exotic and foreign countries to attend meetings and special functions.

She was an advocate for women and women's history. She belonged to the Mountain Home Historical Society and actively donated her time as well as contributing her personal history. She was the chief advocate for the Oregon Trail covered wagon display honoring the pioneer women of Elmore County along the city's walking path.

After reading about the Red Hat Society, she was instrumental in bringing the organization into Mountain Home becoming the first "Queen Mother." After years of parliamentary procedure, she felt this was a way for women to meet and just have fun. They have now expanded to several Mountain Home chapters.

Esther served as an election registrar since the 1980s, firmly believing in everyone's right to vote, and helped at every election. People became accustomed to looking for her to make sure they were in the right place to vote.

She loved to have fun-traveling, dancing, telling a good joke and being with family and friends. Until her last recent illness she faithfully went to water aerobics, which she enjoyed doing three times a week with some dear friends.

Esther is survived by her children: Sharlene and Jim Carrie, Ron and Andrea Fisher, and Richard and Paulette Fisher, all of Mountain Home; Carolyn Wilson and Janice Hines, both of Boise; 16 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren; her sisters Doris Alzola of Meridian and Karma Dean LeMaster of Sultan, Wash.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ray, daughter Marlene Beck, her sons-in-law, Donald Beck and Bernard Hines; her brothers, Floyd, Raymond and Lawrence Hunt, and sisters Gladys Shore and Lois Bermensolo.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Christian and Baptist Church, 265 North Fourth East, Mountain Home, ID 83647.