AVA - . Esther H. Bower, 85, passed away at 2:45am, Sunday July 15, 2012 at the Carbondale Rehab Center in Carbondale, Illinois, after a short illness. Esther was born August 26, 1926 in Pikesville, Pike County, Kentucky to James W. and Elsie Mae (Gooslin) Ogle. At an early age, Esther's family separated and she was sent to live with her aunt and uncle, Tom and Belisha Mae Ogle in Pulaski County, Virginia. She married Homer Joe "Slim" Bower on April 26, 1948 in Holly, Michigan. He preceded her in death on February 12, 2006. For over five decades she made her home with Slim in the little hamlet of Crain, Illinois. Esther was a long standing and active member of the Crain Free Will Baptist Church where she served as Treasurer for many years. She loved to feed her birds and enjoyed watching them come to the feeders in her back yard. She was a generous and kind person and would help even strangers in times of need. She is preceded in death by her parents, her uncle and aunt, Tom and Belisha Mae Ogle, her husband, Homer, brothers, Frank and Haskell Ogle, her sister, Faye "Hermie" Attie Mae Ogle, first cousins, Edna (Ogle) Knowles, Lena (Ogle) Meza, Neta (Ogle) Smith, Thomas W. Ogle and Louise (Ogle) Reedy. Brother and sister-in-laws, Cliff and Peggy Bower, Jack Bower, Pete Bower, Lillie and Stonie Shields, Iline and Ralph Gale, Red and Ruby Bower, Ed and Alma Bower and Doyle Parker and nephews, Elmer and Sam Shields, Tom and Deen Bower. She is survived by her first cousin, Madeline Catron of Wytheville, Virginia, who was like a sister to her, nephews, James and wife Judy Ogle of Whitman, West Virginia and Donald Ogle of Mt. Morris, Michigan, sister-in-law, Irene Parker of Flushing, Michigan and brother-in-law Lee and Betty Bower of Mt. Morris, Illinois, along with a number of nieces and nephews and their progeny. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 am, Thursday, July 19, 2012 at Crain Baptist Church, Ava, Illinois with Pastor Gilbert Gee, officiating, and Pastor Tim Olson, assisting. Burial will follow in Crain Cemetery. Visitation will be at Wilson's Funeral Home in Ava, on Wednesday July 18, 2012, where friends may call from 5 to 8 PM and on Thursday from 7:30 to 9am and from 10am to 11am at the church. Memorials may be given to the Crain Baptist Church, the Crain Cemetery as well as the American Cancer Society