Esther Kaufman

Esther Kaufman
Esther Kaufman

Esther Kaufman

Esther Louise Hartronft Kaufman, 89, died on April 8, 2021, in Shreveport, La., after a year of steadily declining health.

She was born July 17, 1931, in Foss, Okla., the first of three children born to Raymond and Thelma Hartronft. On April 24, 1949, she married Leo Kaufman in Gentry, where they spent most of their married life until they moved to Shreveport in 2009 to be near family. After their two daughters were in school, Esther worked in Gentry, then took a job working for Cobb industries in Siloam Springs, where she retired after 20 years as an executive secretary. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Gentry for 60 years and is, perhaps, most remembered for her many years as a church organist. In Shreveport, she was a member of Woodridge Baptist Church. She was an excellent seamstress and enjoyed making clothes for herself, her daughters and granddaughters.

She was preceded in death by Leo, her husband of 65 years; her brother, CL Hartronft; and sister, Marcine Gilliland.

She is survived by her daughters and their families, Brenda Pennywell (Mike) of Shreveport, and Rhonda Gill (Ken) of Plano, Texas; grandchildren, Robinson -- Emmy (Lonnie); Sears -- Katy (Jerad); Coffee -- Amy (Blaine); Pennywell -- Michael, Matthew (Sandi), Jay; 12 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; three sisters-in-law, Faye Kaufman, Jane Kaufman, and Ellen Garvin.

Visitation was Friday, April 16, at Wasson Funeral Home in Siloam Springs. Graveside services were Saturday, April 17, with Jerad Sears officiating.

To sign the online guestbook, please visit www.wassonfuneralhome.com.