December 13, 1926 – May 24, 2025
Esther Vae Mawson Hess, 98, Harrisonville, MO, died Saturday May 24, 2025, at Carnegie Village, MO surrounded by love and family. Esther was born December 13, 1926, on a farm 3 miles north of Archie, MO, the third daughter of Chester A. and Leeta Maude (Hodges) Mawson. She was a lifelong resident of rural Archie, in Cass County, MO. She graduated in 1944 from Archie High School and received her BS in Education & Business from Missouri State Teachers College in Warrensburg, MO. Esther taught elementary school at the one room Connely School House before moving to a boarding house in Butler, MO to teach 5th grade. She later taught high school business classes at Freeman School.
Esther married Lewis Edward (Eddie) Hess Jr. on May 18, 1952. They purchased a farm adjoining his parents’ farm in rural Archie where she lived the rest of her adult life. There they raised beef cattle, row crops and 2 daughters, Kathryn Vae and Lisa Dianne. After the girls were grown, Esther worked for the House of Lloyd in Grandview, MO and also was a bookkeeper for Endicott Electric in Harrisonville, MO. Esther was a huge KC Chiefs and Royals fan. She enjoyed reading and gardening, especially in her flower garden. She never missed a sporting event her grandsons were playing in. During her retirement years, she enjoyed traveling, visiting, many parts of the United States as well as traveling abroad, including an African safari, Australia, Switzerland and Italy.
Every year for 18 years she and her 6 sisters chose a different destination to converge for a “sisters’ week” to vacation, sharing many laughs and childhood memories, including singing songs and reciting poetry.
Esther was a lifelong member and baptized into the First Baptist Church of Archie, MO in her youth. She was a member of the MO Retired Teachers Association, Archie T.O.P.S. Club and Beta Sigma Phi.
She is survived by 2 daughters; Kathryn Cheek, Harrisonville, MO; Dianne Hon, LaTour, MO; grandsons, Will Hon (Monica), Peculiar, MO, Justin Cheek, Harrisonville, MO; and step grandson, Jeremy Cheek (Ashley), Kearney, MO; great granddaughters, Brielle and Keely Hon; and step great granddaughter Brooklynn Cheek.
Esther was pre-deceased by her parents; her older sister, Mary Plank; and youngest sister, Darlene Helman along with son-in-law, Steve Hon. She leaves behind 4 sisters; Edna Buthe Sunnyvale, CA; Phyllis Brafman (Frank) Hilton Head, SC. Sherma Erholm, Arvada, CO and Marlene Mawson, Lawrence, KS, many nieces and nephews and her granddog, Jack.
