Esther Allen

November 9, 1926 - April 14, 2016

Esther Allen, 89, of Rocky Ford, died Thursday, April 14, 2016 at the Pioneer Healthcare Center in Rocky Ford. She was born November 9, 1926 in Rocky Ford, CO to the late Henry and Christine Grassmick. She was preceded in death by both husbands, David Goebel (1981) and Carl Allen (2001.) Her son David Lee Goebel (2013), daughter-in-law Diane (Eichman) Goebel, son-in-law Kenny Smith, as well as her 4 brothers Scott, Henry, Simon, and Conrad Grassmick and her sisters Marie (Diel, Cox) Grassmick and Leah (English, Dill) Grassmick She is survived by her daughter Linda Smith of Ontario Canada, her son Ron Goebel of Rocky Ford, 3 grandchildren Larisa&Allan Yancey of Rocky Ford, Niki Smith of Ontario, Canada and Linnea Goebel of Rocky Ford, 4 step-grandchildren Carmen (Petracco) Mihely, Russell Mihely, Catherine (Carpenter) Shreve, Michael Shreve, as well as numerous step-great-grandchildren, an ex-daughter-in-law, and lots of "adopted" family. Esther attended Newdale School in Swink, Colorado. In 1946 she married David Goebel and were blessed with 3 children. David Lee, Linda Sue and Ronald Dean. In 1983 she married Carl Allen, an onion farmer in Rocky Ford. Esther had many gifts. Most were in art or music. She played 6 instruments, sewed clothes for her family, knitted, crocheted, did needle point, painted, drew with many mediums, decorated cakes, baked many kinds of goods and sang in choirs. She taught Sunday school for 14 years at the German/Russian Immanuel Congregational church, sang for Ustick Funeral Home for 23 years and worked as a dietician at Rocky Ford's Pioneer Memorial Hospital for 14 years. She loved to sing in the choir at church as well as singing in Otero Junior College's choir. Esther loved her children and was always there when they needed her, but her favorite thing was to be a grandma and great-grandma. Esther loved her family with all her heart, blood relation or not. She had many close friends. If you ever find yourself at Pioneer Nursing Home, go down into the tunnel and look at the murals. She painted multiple murals there. She was very proud and we would love for you to see them. There will be no services at this time. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Ford-Ustick Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to www.fordustick.com.

SERVICES

No Services

Thursday, April 14, 2016