Dear Friends of Esther,
Esther Abbott, Carl’s mother, passed away on Friday, August 22nd, at home. Her last days were incredible. She said she wanted to die for she had had a wonderful life, had done all she wanted to do, and was ready to go. She didn’t want to eat or drink. Nevertheless, we served her food and drink, but she ate almost nothing. She was in no pain. She was just resolute, saying she wanted to go “home.”
On Thursday morning she woke and told us that this was her last day. She was most calm. I asked her if she would like a pastor to come and she said she was content. Carl asked her if it was the most content she had ever felt and she said, “Yes.” Mind you she wasn’t on any drugs of any kind. I have never ever seen her so loving and it was as if she were in “Pure Love,” She called for our sons Luke and Kyle and told each of them how proud she is of them and her wishes for life. Her mood was so good. We all said things we wanted to. She never calls Carl “sweetheart” and when he came in she said “Carl, Sweetheart.” I asked her if she was letting go and she said, “More and more.”
She said, “Do you know the song, So long, it’s been good to know you?” We sang it together. “So long it’s been good to know you. So long it’s been good to know you. So long it’s been good to know you…”
That night she went to bed and in the morning was in a coma. Carl and I were with her at 5pm on Friday and held her. She was breathing. We left the room and I came back a split second later and she was gone, in her sleep, just as she wanted.
Esther was born in Oak Park, Illinois in 1911. She was a dancer during the depression before becoming a professional photographer at the age of 25. She moved to Tucson, AZ and met her future husband Chuck Abbott. They moved to Santa Cruz in 1963 and became very active in downtown and restoration. They created the Pacific Garden Mall in the early 1970s. Their son Mark died while surfing at the age of 18 and the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse was built.
For over forty years Esther worked tirelessly at the Salvation Army, packing food bags, teaching children Bible history and music, helping in times of crisis and much more. She rose at 5:00 a.m. every morning to water her flower garden before walking to the Army. Esther played the piano with a flair at home, at church and in rest homes.
We are very blessed to have had Esther in our lives. She will be missed.
She is survived by her son Carl Abbott, her daughter in law Leslie Abbott, and grandsons Luke and Kyle Abbott.
A memorial will be held September 26, 2008 at 2:00pm at the Salvation Army Corps, 721 Laurel Street. Any memorials may be made to the Salvation Army.
Blessings to you,
Leslie Abbott
My condolences to the Abbott Family. Esther sounds like a remarkable woman.
Love,
Dan
Dear Friends,
It was a great honor to have been in Esther’s neighborhood for those two years before the quake. She was always in good spirits and greeted me whenever our paths crossed. I am sorry for your loss. Ninety-four years sounds like a long time, yet somehow I thought she would live forever. My best wishes are with you, her family, in this time of transition.
Be well,
DH
Hello, I’m writing from Alaska and found your site through youtube. I think your family has an amazing story, and when I read this post, I couldn’t help but begin to cry. I’m sorry for your loss, but through faith I know I’ll run into her in heaven one day. May God forever bless you, your family, and your beautiful music.
abbott’s,
what you all shared about the life and death of esther, was so sweet, beautiful and loving… the flow of loving tears prevents me from reading all that has been posted on the net regarding esther’s life.
thank you so very, very much for letting me live next door to esther, for 8 years. it was a privlige… to watch her tend her garden… and on occassion to talk with her.
it’s getting late now, and i have so much more i want to share with you, about my feelings for esther, and all of you… you all are the closest thing i have to a family… and, i am so grateful to have you in my life.
thank you for letting me into you yours…
if i am unable to connect with you some time this week, i will see you on thursday at the salvation army, for esther’s memorial.
with love always,
jeffrey
ps; is there some way to forward to my mom what you wrote about esther’s life and passing? i am unable to do it myself…. mommielila@aol.com. or maybe a print out i can xerox– to keep for myself, and share with other’s?
love,
jeffrey
Hi its Rebecca contacting you from Ireland again, sorry to hear about your loss. My dad passed away four years ago its a terrible loss, i wish i had been by his side as you were by Esthers. So in a way you were quite lucky to have been there with her. She sounds like she was a remarkable strong woman.
ps: i really enjoy reading about your goings on, some are quite funny and cheer me up. Keep up the good work.
Abbott Family,
Though I never met Esther, she was and inspiration to me.
Esther was the first woman photographer for Arizona Highways Magazine. I (the previous publicist for AHM) phoned her to invite her to the 75th Anniversary of the magazine to salute her for her work. She graciously declined because she wanted to “keep her memories.”
I had sent her recent AHM issues and Greer, AZ was on the cover and she said, “This is not the Greer I remember. There was just one small general store the last time I was there.” She was my hero from that moment on and we did become pen pals for a few years until her eyesight failed her. I sent her large print calendars and she sent me photos of her in her in her garden and some music. I treasure my memories of her and send her family my good thoughts. May all of your memories give you comfort.
Peace,
Catherine
I am interested in photographs Esther Henderson and Chuck Abbott took many years ago (1940s and 50s) of The Little Outfit Ranch School near Patagonia, Arizona. Can you tell me where I might find them?
I'm afraid not. My mother tossed out many old photos as the year went by. After she died I tossed out those I didn't have any personal connection with. Sorry. Perhaps try Arizona Highways if they were published in that magazine.
Carl
My son found a framed picture by Chuck Abbott of a little Navajo girl with a lamb in her lap. There is a old news clip taped to the back. Anyone know anything about this. Lorie
Not us!
Carl & Leslie,
I knew your mother when I was a child attending the Salvation Army Church. The little girls at the church were “sunbeams” and, your mother would have us over to her wonderful Victorian home to do crafts projects. She was a wonderful woman, with wonderful pink rouge cheeks. I remember her showing me the “family home” with great pride and delight in the way the kitchen ceiling sloped. I loved her very much and over the years have never forgotten her. She was kind, caring and very special not only to me but, to so many. I also knew your brother Mark, the “super surfer.”
I just want to say that of all of my memories of my youth, your mother stands out as one of the very best. She was an inspiration and it was an honor and privilege to have known such a kind, adventurous soul. My very best regards to you and your family.
The Esther Abbott that I knew would never “rest in peace” as there would always be so many new and wonderful projects for her to work on. I am sure that her spirit is very, very busy. She was a one of a kind.
Jenny Krausmann
I had guessed she might have passed on since she was a bit older than my father whose been gone for some time. i grew up in a household of writing and photography and Esther was one of my heroes for a long time. Her photogaphy was wonderful and helped make Arizona Highways the wonderful magazine it has been for so many decades. I'm a very amateur photography but enjoy it and cherish the many wonderul artistic pictures especially of Arizona and athe Native Americans. Belatedly I send my sincere sympathy to the family and when I can I will make a donation to Salvation Army (a charity I also favor) in her memory. We are all richer that she lived and gave so much.
I wonder if this is the same Esther Henderson who photographed my mother, Doris Dayton, for the Feb 1942 cover of Arizona Highways. Doris was Rodeo Queen at U of A, and I have many old original photos by Esther Henderson and Chuck Abbott- has to be the same. My mother got to know Esther well during all this publicity, and spoke highly of her for many years.
Bob McCord
Gig Harbor WA
Hello Bab,
Yes. This is the same Esther. That’s wonderful your mother knew her and that you have many of Esther and Chuck’s photos.
I am her daughter in law, married to her son Carl. We (her 2 grandsons too) lived next door to her for 30 years until her passing. She was a wonderful person.
Thank you for taking the time to write. She would be honored.
Best wishes, Leslie Abbott
Leslie,
How nice to make this connection. My Tucson AZ brother today also confirmed that our mother Doris Dayton McCord, who lived not far away in the Bay Area herself, maintained life-long contact with Esther up till shortly before Doris passed away in 1998.
We still have the mining claim in Oracle AZ where my mother raised horses, and where many of Esther’s pictures were taken for AZ Highways.
I was just looking through my Mom’s old photos, found the Esther photos, and queried her name on the internet. I’m glad I “closed this loop”! Our best wishes to your whole family.
Bob McCord
My family lived in Ouray, CO for several years in the early 60s. While I do not remember much as I was 4, our families knew each other. This morning my five year old was asking about the painting on our wall of the little boy with a red balloon that was painted by Esther Henderson. In the card to my mother from Esther, she mentions “Where are um?” which was apparently something I used to say. She also refers to the then recent death of their son. This painting has hung on my walls for at least two decades, including the times I lived in the Bay area. Too bad, I did not google Esther Henderson sooner…
Where are Esther Henderson’s photos and who controls them? I am trying to get a copy of a picture she took of a Zuni girl at Gallup Ceremonial in about 1957. Thank you.