Estelle McAtee

Estelle Anderson McAtee was born in Bethel, McCurtain County, Oklahoma to parents Raymond and Hattie Anderson on October 15, 1923. She passed from this life into the loving arms of her savior Jesus Christ in the early morning hours of June 12th, 2019. She was 95 years of age. Her passage was peaceful and serene after a long struggle with leukemia and various other ailments that come with great age. Until the last, her spirit was strong and her will, even stronger.

Estelle married the love of her life Arleigh "RG" McAtee on February 7th, 1944. To this marriage was born their only child, their beloved daughter Judith Arlene. Estelle and Arleigh enjoyed 68 years of marriage together until his passage on March 9th, 2012.

Growing up the oldest child of six, Estelle helped raise her younger siblings. She left home as a young woman and worked in defense plants during WWII. Afterwards, she and her husband made their home in various cities around Texas and Oklahoma, retiring to their property in Oakwood in April, 1982.

Her daughter would want all to know that Estelle was a strong-willed Christian woman of integrity and character. She believed that doing right was its own reward and class could never be bought. She never wavered from her core beliefs. And lastly, she was ever and always the first to come to the aid, defense and protection of those she loved the most, her family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Arleigh, brother William David Anderson, sister Alma Marie 'Babe' Johnson, and her parents, Raymond and Hattie Rebecca Anderson. Estelle is survived by daughter Judith Arlene Thomason, husband Michael, sister Shirley Faye Teinert, husband Herman, sister Rachel Alice Swart, her brother Doyle Wayne Anderson, wife Sherry, grandsons Charles Scott and Charles Steven Noack, and great grandsons Taylor Scott and Kameron Michael Noack as well as a host of nieces and nephews. And last but not least, she is survived by her devoted pet and companion Lulu the Schnauzer whom she asked about on a daily basis. Peace to her memory!

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from six o'clock until eight o'clock in the evening on Friday, the 14th day of June, in the Reflection Room and Parlor of Rhone Funeral Home.

Funeral services for Estelle McAtee are to be conducted at ten o'clock in the morning on Saturday, the 15th day of June, 2019 at First Christian Church in Oakwood with Pastor Johnny Robinson officiating. Interment will follow in Oakwood Cemetery.

Active pallbearers will be Scott Noack, Taylor Noack, Kameron Noack, Steven Noack, Norman Campbell and Michael Thomason. Honorary pallbearers are Herman Tienert, Doug Stevens, and Doyle Anderson

Judy would like to thank the staff of Memory Care at Windermere and Legacy at Town Creek for their kind and loving care of her mother over the last two and a half years and to Dr. Adewale, MD and all the nurses and staff at Palestine Regional Hospital, including Hospice of East Texas. Estelle was given extra care early on by Janice Stone and later by Debbie Walston, both of whom tended to her every need. Lastly, her deepest and most sincere love and appreciation goes out to Verneater Owens, her mother's most loyal friend and caregiver. She never wavered in her care and affection for Estelle and a finer example of service above self cannot be found.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Oakwood Cemetery Association, PO Box 349, Oakwood, TX 75855 or Hospice of East Texas (800)777-9860.