1924 – 2016

FARMINGTON — Esther Stevens Russell, 91, a resident of the Sandy River Center for Health Care & Rehabilitation in Farmington and a longtime resident of Peru, passed peacefully on Monday, April 11, at the Center.

She was born Sept. 1, 1924, in New Sharon, the daughter of Judson and Bessie (Schaffer) Stevens. She was educated in New Sharon schools and graduated from high school in 1941.

She married Ralph O. Russell in 1943. They moved to Peru in 1953 and raised four children. She was a member of the United Baptist Church of Peru where she taught Sunday and Bible school for 25 years. She was a former Girl Scout Leader, past president of the Peru American Legion Auxiliary, a member of the Peru Historical Society and the Peru Extension, where she served as secretary.

For many years, she was employed at Baker’s General Store in Peru.

She loved her family and was always there for her neighbors and friends. She enjoyed reading, knitting and crossword puzzles and was an avid fan of the Red Sox, especially when they won. She enjoyed taking trips to visit her families and doing things with them.

She is survived by two sons, Ronald D. Russell and his wife, Karen, of Swanville and Florida, Robert A. Russell and his wife, Sarah, of Mexico; a daughter, Susan West and her husband, James, of Georgetown, Texas; a brother, Spurgeon Stevens and his wife, Nancy, of Mount Dora, Fla.; eight grandchildren, Wendy Russell, Elizabeth Clayton and husband, Frederick, Emily MacElhiney and husband, Shane, Laura and Kevin West, Jerod Wyman and wife, Natalie, Joshua Russell and wife, Cara, and Joel Wyman; 10 great-grandchildren, Aaron, Avery and Austin Anderson, Frederick and Mary Cate Clayton, Jacob and Luke Russell, Leah and Connor MacElhiney and Liliana Wyman; one great-great-grandson, Levi Arthur Anderson.

She was predeceased by her husband, Ralph; their daughter, Judy Wyman; a brother, Norman Stevens; sisters, Lillian “Lil” Hamblen, Aristean “Tina” Butterfield and Gloria “Rick” Millet; and two infant grandchildren, Judson and Julia Russell.

Please share your tributes and condolences on her memorial wall at www.wilesrc.com, where her memorial tribute video may be viewed.