Kathryn Lea Estes, 66

Kathryn Lea McGinnis Estes, 66, of St. Louis, died peacefully, surrounded by her loved ones, at her home on June 10, 2020, after an 11-year battle with meningiomas. She had told her family she never wanted her death to be a sad event, so they will celebrate her life instead. Arrangements will be announced later.

She was born Aug. 10, 1953, in Gainesville, the daughter of Vera Hambelton McGinnis Lickey. She attended school in Gainesville all of her school years. 

On Feb. 2, 1991, in Kentucky, she married Ozark County native John Q. Estes, the great love of her life. They were married for 29 years. 

Mrs. Estes was passionate about traveling, eating at new restaurants, her grandchildren, shopping and solving crossword puzzles. She had the grace and fight to never show that she was in pain, and she constantly kept a smile on her face for all the years of battling brain tumors and a number of other health issues. She touched the heart of everyone she met and could turn any stranger into family over a cup of coffee and a sweet treat. She loved her family and friends deeply and will be greatly missed. 

Survivors include her husband, John Q., her daughter Dede Lickey and her mother Vera Lickey, all of  St. Louis; older sister Carol McGinnis Looney of Harrisonville; granddaughters Ariel Lickey, Savannah Byrd, Alexa Estes, Bentley Estes; many step-children and step-grandbabies; and a small farm of “fur babies.”

Kathy was preceded in death by brother, Robert “Bob” McGinnis. 

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Brain Tumor Association to help find a cure.