Esther Amelia Blake Cairns

1923 - 2018

TIPP CITY — Esther Amelia Blake Cairns, age 95, of Tipp City departed this earth into heaven June 6, 2018, after a short illness.

Coincidentally, Esther died on D-Day, the day her beloved husband, Hugh "Doc" Cairns had fought in the WWII Normandy Invasion in 1944.

Esther was born May 25, 1923 to Lisle and Amelia Blake in Ashtabula, Ohio. She had been an elementary music teacher and a volunteer church choir director for 70 years at the various Baptist churches in the towns where they lived. At her church, Tipp City's First Baptist Church, her last cantata "Revelation" was performed May 2016. At age 93, she composed an arrangement that involved French horn, piano, solos, and choir. Esther played many instruments including the piano and violin. Esther last taught in Tipp City Schools and Troy Christian School retiring in 1986.

She married in 1947 and had four children. Esther is survived by three children, Craig Cairns of Heath, Ohio, Laurel (Steve) Booher of Tipp City, and Gayle (Richard) Shockey of Springboro; one daughter-in-law, Melissa Cairns of Tipp City. She had 12 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren; a brother, James (Mary Ellen) Blake of Ashtabula; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by one son, Gary Cairns; one daughter-in-law, Karen Cairns; and three siblings, Dorothy, Helen, and John.

Esther dearly loved her church, First Baptist Church, 6533 S. Tipp Cowlesville Road, Tipp City, OH, and will have her service there on Monday, June 11, at 10 a.m. with Pastor Reggie Osborne officiating. Burial will follow in Miami Memorial Park, Covington. Visitation will be held the day before, June 10, at the same location from 4-8 p.m.

Contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, 6533 S Tipp Cowlesville Rd, Tipp City, OH, 45371. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.bairdfuneralhome.com.