Esther Gatchell

Esther Irene Gatchell, 87, Topeka, passed away Sunday, May 20, 2007, at her home in Topeka, Kansas.

She was born December 6, 1919 near Winchester, KS the daughter of Ernest and Lottie White Gilbert. She graduated from Oskaloosa High School in 1937, came to Topeka and worked at several jobs.

She married Edward Gatchell February 19, 1943, in Garden City, KS and lived there and Pampa, TX until his discharge. She and Ed returned to Topeka and owned and ran the Grab-A-Snack Restaurant until 1951. Then they went into Real Estate and Property Management running Gatchell Agency until they retired. Ed preceded her in death March 17, 2003.

She belonged to First United Methodist Church and the IOOF-Rebekah Lodge.

Survivors are her son, Bill and his wife Lori Gatchell, grandchildren, Jake and Jacy Gatchell, two sisters, Dorothy Funk, McLouth, and Ruth and Dick Kimmel, Gladstone, MO, and her sister in law, Louise Gilbert, McLouth.

Services will be 10:30a.m. Thursday, May 24, 2007 at Klasse Chapel at the First United Methodist Church. Interment will be in Topeka Cemetery. Mrs. Gatchell will lie in state after 1:00p.m. Wednesday at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel where family will receive friends from 6:30p.m. until 8:00p.m. that evening. Memorial contributions may be given to Heart of America Hospice or to First United Methodist Church. To leave a special message for the family online, visit www.PenwellGabel.com.