Estella Edna (Bailey) Tate was born on April 19, 1920, to Robert James and Ophelia (Martin) Bailey in Lawson, Missouri. 

She and her older sister Marcella enjoyed growing up in Lawson on their 80 acre farm where she milked many cows, fed chickens, and took care of her own horse named Alex. 

Estella accepted Christ at an early age and was a member of the North Main Street Baptist Church in Excelsior Springs, Missouri.  She sang in the church choir and played the piano. 

Estella attended Lincoln School, a segregated school, in Excelsior Springs, graduating in 1938.

After her high school graduation, Estella moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where she attended and

graduated from General Hospital No. 2 School of Nursing.  While at General she served as the

Secretary on the Scholarship Committee.  Her nurse’s uniform is displayed in the Negro League

Baseball Museum here in Kansas City.   After graduating, Estella was immediately hired at the University

of Kansas Medical Center in 1946 as a staff nurse and was soon promoted to head nurse.  She also

held positions as surgical nurse, OB delivery nurse, outpatient clinic nurse, and Nurse Supervisor.  Estella

received many honors and awards during her nursing career.  She encouraged and helped others with

their educational goals.  Estella retired from the Medical Center after more than 40 years of dedicated

service.

 

Estella married the late Doyle V. Tate on August 24, 1948.  Doyle was a Buffalo Soldier and both he and

Estella were members of the 9th and 10th Calvary Association.  They enjoyed family, traveling, and

entertaining.  The two especially looked forward to hosting their annual holiday dinner.  Estella and

Doyle were married for almost 52 years.

 

Estella loved serving the Lord and was a faithful member of Paseo Baptist Church for 80 years.  During

that time she played and taught piano in the Junior Sunday School department and sang in the choir.

Estella was active in the Loving, Caring, and Sharing; Nursing; Lois Circle; and Visiting Ministries.   She

also sang in the D.A. Holmes Choir.  She was an active member of the Palestine Senior Center and

faithfully attended their Bible Study classes.  Estella proudly traveled as a missionary to Jamaica and to

Mississippi while working with the youth in Vacation Bible School.

 

Estella was a member of several social clubs and organizations.  She was good with math, played

dominoes, and enjoyed the Bridge Club.  She loved traveling and music, especially good gospel music.

Estella played the piano with one hand when she was 99.  She had traveled abroad and to all 50 states.

Her last trip was in 2014 when she went to Richmond, Williamsburg, and Lynchburg, Virginia, and then

on to Washington, DC.  Oh, what a time she had riding on the motorized scooter in Williamsburg!

During this trip, she traveled by plane, bus, and train.  She was 94 at the time.

 

Estella was witty and definitely had a good sense of humor.  She was feisty and favored.  All who were

around her even for a short time had a story to tell about her.  She will be missed but not forgotten.

 

Estella Bailey Tate was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Ophelia Bailey; her husband,

Doyle; her sister Marcella; and all of her first cousins.  She is survived by a niece, a few generations of

cousins, many dear friends, and all of her adopted children.

 

Luke 6:38-39

Funeral Services will be held  at 10:00 am on Thurs, Oct 29th, 2020 at Lawrence A. Jones & Sons Linwood Chapel. Visitation 9 am. Interment Leavenworth National Cemetery 12:30 pm.