Richard Donald Estes

Dear Mary Jane,
Martha Story sent me the notice of Richard's death. I am so sorry. Words cannot really express our feelings. We are left with emptiness,sadiness & a great void- but more, God fills us with many fond & great memories of great times shared and many positive life experiences. Mona Gay & I feel your loss, but we joy in the great Christ example Richard presented to all he knew. He left you with a great heritage in your children & grandchildren.
May God hold you & them in the palm of his hand.
With Love,
Fred & Mona Gay Keith

Mary Jane and family, we were shocked and saddened to hear of Richard's passing. He was not only a classmate (as were you), and Scouting companion but a true close friend of many years. He will be missed.
Much love, Helene and Fred Cone

I am so sorry for your loss. I was so looking forward to meeting Richard and it breaks my heart to know I have missed that chance. I could tell he so loved genealogy from the notes he would share with me.
Please know that you are in our prayers.
Becky and Billy Thackston (Estes Family)

We were sorry to hear of Richard's passing. We knew him from our time in Copperhill. We always thought highly of Richard. He was a kind and considerate man who will be greatly missed. Glenn and Judy Krall (Lake Charles, La.)

Celebrating a life well lived. We will cherish the memories forever.

Mary Jane, I am shocked and I join you and yours in feeling deep emotional pain at this loss. My mother taught Richard at J. C. Harris, and always thought he was the most well-behaved boy she had. Richard and I were together from the sixth grade on through Ga. Tech. We were both members of Boy Scout Troop 110 under Scoutmaster Harry Price, and the picture of the Troop is one of my treasures. (If you don't have a copy, let me know, and I will be happy to send you one.) I'm sorry that I never knew he was a Scoutmaster - that was another of our common interests and services. The last contact I had with him was, unfortunately, to tell him of the passing of another of our Troop 110 members, Johnny Linn. Why did I never spend time with Richard sharing our Scouting memories, both as boys and as Scoutmasters? At times like these, I am reminded of a poem that should remind us of how we should treat those we know:
If you've anything good to say to a man,
Don't wait till he's laid to rest;
For the eulogy spoken
When hearts are broken
Is an empty thing at best.
At this time, I pray that God's comfort engulf you and bear you up on his wings - like Eagles wings - and help you soar above this loss. God has more for you and I to do to serve Him and honor Richard.
My heart goes out to you,
Richard Dix

Mrs. Estes and family, I was privileged to work with Richard for many years at the Ducktown Basin Museum. His kindness and intelligence combined with a passion for history and community made a lasting impression on me. I truly admired the way he handled himself in all situations. The Basin lost one of our champions with his passing.

Mrs. Estes and family,

I first got to know Richard as a member of the Ducktown museum board. The more time I spent around him, the more I realized what a truly kind and wonderful man he was, in so many ways.

And then, one day, I was thumbing through an old address book that had belonged to my mother, Gertie Frye, and found your name and your Atlanta address in it. She obviously cherished your friendship, just as I came to cherish Richard's.

We will miss him greatly. My deepest sympathies to all of you.

Rest in Peace my friend..Betsy and Charlie Wright

Mrs. Estes and Family,

Richard worked with me at Copperhill for many years. We have stayed in touch. He is one of the finest Christian men I have known. Our daughter and her family attend church at Mt. Zion due to Richard. He will be missed by all of us. May God be with you now and the days ahead.

Jim and Jeanette Hedrick
Murphy, NC