Esther Mae Bolton

Esther Mae Bolton, 86, was born in Thermopolis, Wyo., May 1, 1935, to Hester  and Ruth (Baker) Davis.  She lived on Upper Owl  Creek attending  county one-room schools, then graduated from Hot Springs County High School in 1953. While still in high school, Esther worked for Mountain Bell as a switchboard operator. After graduating, she attended Airline Training school in Omaha, Nebraska.

After the Korean War, Esther married Ivan R. Blakesley in Thermopolis in June 1954. They lived in Thermopolis and had two children, Veva and Mark. They divorced in 1975.

Esther had a variety of jobs including charge clerk for the Gambles store and assistant payroll clerk for Chopping Chevrolet. She worked for Charles M. Smith Construction as payroll clerk from 1968 to 1976, then for Hot Springs County School District as assistant bookkeeper from 1977 to 1981.

Esther married William E. Bolton, MD in September 1981 and they moved to Worland, Wyo., where she worked in her husband's medical clinic until he closed his office in August, 1996. They lived in Longview, Wash., in 1986 to 1987 where she attended Stylemaster's Beauty College.

Esther was a member of the First Baptist Church in Thermopolis for many years, then a member of the Worland First Baptist Church. She was also a member of the Washakie Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and the Worland Artists Association.

After returning to Thermopolis in 1999 to be near her grandchildren, Esther and Bill became members of the Federated Community Church. She was an active volunteer in the Wednesday Children's After School program.

Esther enjoyed traveling to new and different places, skiing, hiking, and collecting rocks. With her husband, she participated in an organization called Carolina Clinic (similar to Doctors without Borders) in Honduras. She became an avid photographer which was evident by the photos on the walls of her home and those of her family. Besides her home collection, she entered and won several photography contests. She especially loved spending time with her grandchildren.

Esther is survived by her husband, William "Bill" Bolton; daughter, Veva K. Blakesley-VanKirk and son, Mark (Lori) Blakesley both of Thermopolis; sister, Lois Davis of Green Valley, Ariz.; grandchildren, Marshall (Samantha) Bridges, Julia Blakesley, and Cassidy VanKirk; great-granddaughters, Jaylee Hood and Emma Bridges; step-children, Teresa Bolton, Mark Bolton of Chicago, Ill., Johanna Brandt of Streator, Ill., Phillip Bolton of Centennial, Wyo., and Matthew Bolton of Hamilton, Ohio; 8 step grandchildren; and 8 step great-grandchildren.

Esther was preceded in death by her parents; and brothers, James, Raymond, Keith and Leonard Davis.

Mortimore Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Cremation has taken place and burial will be at Monument Hill Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Memorials can be made to Federated Community Church in Thermopolis, WY or the Salvation Army.