Cora Esther Douglass, 86, of Burlington, Kansas, passed away Saturday, May 15, 2021 at Sunset Manor in Waverly.

Esther was born at home on May 3, 1935, to Arch and Axie Lee Todd on the King place near Checotah at Central High in McIntosh County, Oklahoma. She attended Central High School starting in 1941, and graduated 8 ^th grade in 1949. Esther attended 4 years of high school at Checotah High School in Checotah, graduating in 1953. For the next two years she lived and studied at Connors State College in Warner, Oklahoma. Esther transferred to Northeastern University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma to complete her Elementary Education Bachelor's degree in 1957.

Following the completion of Esther's education she taught school for two years in Missouri before returning to Checotah, Oklahoma to teach two years at Onapa four miles south of town. In the fall of 62 she took a position teaching 3 ^rd grade in Burlington. During the summer months Esther would return to Checotah where she commuted to Northeastern University to earn a Master's degree in Elementary Education.

Esther was a beloved member of the family and a favorite Aunt to her nieces and nephews. Many days were spent with family boating, camping, and learning to water ski at Lake Eufaula in the summer months. Esther would return to Burlington during the school year with trips to Oklahoma for Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Esther married Roger Douglass on September 3, 1971, making her home at the family farm for more than 40 years until moving into Burlington in 2015.

Esther retired from teaching in 1981 when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, which she survived, as well as having breast cancer and lymphoma later in life.

After retiring from teaching she enjoyed several hobbies of ceramic doll making and Genealogy, and was active with 4-H projects.

Esther was preceded in death by her husband, Roger Douglass; parents, Arch Owen and Axie Lee (Dornan) Todd, and brother, George Franklin Todd.

She is survived by her son, Sean Todd Douglass; two sisters, Ellen Gamblin and Yvonne Gamblin of Muskogee, Oklahoma; sisters-in-law Betty Todd, Checotah, Oklahoma, and Lavon Haney; brother-in-law, Bob Lawrence; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Thursday, May 20, 2021, at the United Methodist Church in Burlington.

Esther will lie in state from 6:00 to 7:00 P.M. Wednesday at Jones Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society, and may be sent in care of Jones Funeral Home, P.O. Box 277, Burlington, KS 66839.