Family marks woman's 100th birthday

Esther Pace, who turned 100 Friday, Sept. 8, takes a call from a well-wisher during a reception in her honor Saturday, Sept. 9, at First Baptist Church in Marshall. [Click to enlarge]

By her own account, Esther Pace has lived a quiet life.

She worked and attended church for many years but never married, never raised a family.

Still, judging by the turnout at the First Baptist Church in Marshall Saturday, Sept. 9, Pace has touched many lives in the Marshall area.

Esther Pace, second row, far right, is held by her mother, Elizabeth Pace. The photo, provided by Mary Beth Frazee, was taken in 1906, when Pace was only a few months old. To the left, also in the second row, her father, George Pace, holds her older sister, Ruth. [Click to enlarge]

The lobby of the church was filled with friends and family of all ages, from great-great niece Maycee Edgar, at 6 months old, to cousin Lucille Leaton Wheeler, at 99 1/2 years old.

"I always tell her 'You've beaten me by six months' every time we have a family reunion," Wheeler said. "They live long on our side of the house."

Wheeler's son, Robert, said the Leaton-Pace clan has a long history of holding regular family reunions. He pointed to a group photo taken in 1906 as evidence of one of the early meetings.

Esther Pace, left, greets her cousin, Lucille Leaton Wheeler, who is 99 1/2 years old, and her son, Robert Wheeler, both of Sedalia. The Wheelers were among a throng of well-wishers who visited Pace at the First Baptist Church in Marshall Saturday, Sept. 9, to mark her 100th birthday. [Click to enlarge]

The photo includes young Esther Pace and Lucille Wheeler when they were just a few months old.

Robert Wheeler said the family reunions used to draw 100 or more people, but in recent years the gathering has dwindled as more and more family members live farther apart.

Lucille Wheeler and Esther Pace still attend, though, when they are able and both were at the most recent reunion.

Many generations were present Saturday, Sept. 9, to honor Esther Pace, who turned 100 on Sept. 8. Pace, in the background, is joined here by great-great nephew Hunter Edgar, 8, his sister Maycee Edgar, 6 months, and his mother, Pace's great niece Amy Edgar. [Click to enlarge]

In addition to family members, the birthday reception brought together Pace's friends from her long membership at First Baptist Church.

Even Pace is not sure exactly when she joined the church, but it's certain she is the oldest member, according to Mary Beth Frazee, one of the organizers of the birthday reception.

Pace said she attended church faithfully but was not active in church events. She was, however, famous for her deviled eggs. More than one person at the party fondly recalled Pace's contribution to many covered-dish events over the years.

A number of friends at the reception knew Pace from her long career at the International Shoe factory in Marshall, where she worked for 50 years.

Pace was born in rural Napton but lived most of her life in Marshall. About two years ago she moved to Warrensburg where she lives with her niece, Brenda Kendrick and her husband, Ron Kendrick.

The Kendricks initiated the idea of a birthday celebration and several members of the church offered to host it and take care of organizing it.

Pace said she was surprised by the event.

"They sure pulled one over on me," she said. "I never imagined ..."

Contact Eric Crump at

marshallfaith@socket.net