Esther Elloise Carson, daughter of the late Bransford Wilmath and Ida Phillips Wilmath, was born Sept. 4, 1918, at Essex and departed this life in her daughter's residence at Dexter Monday, June 27, 2005, at the age of 86.

Mrs. Carson was of the Nazarene faith, a farmer, a former employee of Brown Shoe Company, a former employee of Elder Manufacturing Company in Dexter, had cleaned houses in the Bernie area and was a resident of Bernie.

She was united in marriage to Frank Carson Dec. 25, 1936, at Bernie. He preceded her in death Jan. 1, 1976.

Survivors include two daughters, Sheron Duffie of Dexter and Virginia Kincannon of St. Louis; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by seven brothers, Efford Wilmath, Alford Wilmath, Junior Wilmath, Joe Wilmath, Kelly Wilmath, Thelwood Wilmath and Ed Wilmath; and three sisters, Margie Wilmath, Veda Tippet and Flossie Kelly.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral home in Bernie from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 29. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:30 a.m. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Don Wells officiating. Interment will follow in the Bernie Cemetery.