Obituary of Esther F. McKinnis

Esther F. (Olmsted) McKinnis, age 87, of Orchard Park, NY, formerly of Westfield and Tonawanda, NY, died Wednesday, August 20, 2014 at Absolut Care Of Orchard Park following an extended illness. Esther was born on November 11, 1926 in Westfield, NY, the daughter of the late Era and Ruth (Finn) Olmsted. Esther was raised in Westfield, and graduated from Westfield Academy School. She attended Nursing School at the former Deaconess Hospital of Buffalo, where she earned her degree as a Registered Nurse. While in Nursing School she worked at Westfield Hospital and upon graduation she worked for a number of years at Millard Filmore Hospital in Buffalo. When she married her late husband Asa, Esther became a dedicated homemaker. They resided first in Lancaster then in 1961 moved to Tonawanda. In 1975 Esther returned to a long and distinguished career in Dermatologic Nursing and retired at the age of 72. She enjoyed flower gardening, traveling and her many friends at the Trinity United Methodist Church of Amherst, where she enjoyed many Church circles and Bible Study. Survivors include her son, John McKinnis and his wife Carol of Irving, NY, her grandchildren Caitlin & Andrew McKinnis, also of Irving, William (Christie) Maloney and Kelly Maloney, all of Grand Island, NY, as well as her great granddaughter, Arley Rae. She was preceded in death by her husband, Asa F. McKinnis, whom she married on Oct. 7, 1950 and who died on January 15, 2012, and by her daughter Jane (McKinnis) Maloney, and by her brother, Lester Olmsted. Friends may call at the MASON Funeral Home, 37 Clinton St., Westfield, NY on Saturday, August 23,2014 from 1:00 PM until the time of Funeral Services there at 2:00 PM with Rev. Dana Vaughn officiating. Private burial will be in Westfield Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Alzheimer's Assoc. Of WNY, 2805 Werhle Drive Suite #6, Williamsville, NY 14221. Log on to www.masonfuenral.com to send the McKinnis family a message of sympathy, to light a Memorial Candle or for further information.