Esther Mae Salingue

Esther Mae (Flowers) Salingue, 87, of Christopher, passed away at 7:55 a.m. on Friday, October 17, 2025, at Parkway Manor Nursing Home in Marion.
Esther was born on April 20, 1938, to Lester and Ida Mildred (Williams) Flowers. On June 1, 1957, she married Robert Louis "Bob" Salingue at the First Christian Church in Zeigler. They shared nearly 53 years of marriage before his passing on May 12, 2010. Together, they worked side by side owning and operating Bob's Market in Royalton for many years.
After graduating high school, Esther attended Du Quoin Beauty College, where she earned her cosmetology license. She later worked as a seamstress at the Country Set Dress Factory in Du Quoin for several years. Esther concluded her career with the Zeigler-Royalton School District, where she worked in the lunchroom and also drove a school bus.
Esther was a devoted and longtime member of the First Christian Church in Zeigler. She was also active in the Zeigler Jaycees Club. She loved gardening, and she had a talent for cross-stitch and floral arranging. Some of her favorite moments were spent fishing with her husband.
She is survived by her daughter, Kelly, and her husband, Dr. Kent Harshbarger of Centerville, OH; two grandchildren, Kristian Harshbarger of Jamestown, OH, and Karoline Harshbarger of Rocky Top, TN; and two sisters, Venita Rea of Zeigler and Doris Cash of Marion.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bob; and her brother, Eugene Flowers.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at Vantrease-Pyle Funeral Home in Zeigler.
Funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 26, 2025, at Vantrease-Pyle Funeral Home in Zeigler, with Pastor Don Wright officiating. Interment will follow at Zeigler City Cemetery.
Vantrease-Pyle Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.