Hester Hersha Obituary

Durango resident Hester Mae Hersha died Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011, at her home. She was 91.

Mrs. Hersha was born to Mellie Francis Ash and Floyd Rodgers on Nov. 27, 1919, in Fairview, Mo. Her family moved to Hillsdale, Mich., where she attended junior high and high school.

She met Harold Hersha in Michigan. The couple married in July 1939, at her mother's home outside of Hillsdale.

The Hershas had two daughters in Michigan, Sally Ann and Cathi Jane. Because of health concerns with their daughter Sally, they moved to California in 1954. Shortly thereafter, a third daughter, Lisa Joyce, was born.

Their family said the Hershas loved living and raising their children in California.

"Mom read a lot, was a fantastic cook and also liked to sew or knit," her daughter Lisa Watters wrote. "Westerns were her favorite movies. Every Saturday morning, she watched an old Western, usually something with Gary Cooper or John Wayne."

Mrs. Hersha had been a resident of Durango since February 2007. While living in Durango, she attended First Baptist Church.

"She loved living in Durango because of the great beauty here," Watters said. "She loved taking long walks, especially along the river walk. She also looked forward to long drives; we used to go to Silverton often because she loved the town as well as the drive up there."

Mrs. Hersha also enjoyed going to Pagosa Springs for lunch and taking drives to see the fall colors.

Mrs. Hersha was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Harold Hersha; and daughter Sally McCulloch.

She is survived by her daughters Lisa Watters of Durango and Cathi Huyett of Wrightwood, Calif.; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

A service will be held at Forest Lawn in Hollywood Hills, Calif., where Mrs. Hersha will be buried next to her husband.