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Obituary - Marie Stopher
Friday, July 14, 2017




Marie Estes Stopher, 102, passed away on Friday, July 7, 2017.

Born in Liberty, MO, Marie and her parents, Dr. Emmet Floyd and Grace Harman Estes, moved to Louisville where she met the love of her life, Joseph E. Stopher, in the first grade at Stephen Foster Elementary School. They married in 1942 and are survived by their three children, Edward H. Stopher (Cathy), Ann S. Dalzell (Frank), and Robert E. Stopher (Nancy); their six grandchildren, Catherine C. Payne (Mark), Marshall S. Kiker (Douglas), Charles H. Stopher (Steph), James A. Stopher (Dana Sadava), David W. Stopher, and Lynn E. Stopher; and her six great grandchildren, Laurel G. Payne, Lucy V. Stopher, Edward T. Stopher, Walter S. Kiker, Albert P. Kiker, and Henry P. Kiker.

After attending Bethel Woman's College in Hopkinsville, KY, U of K, and graduating from U of L, Marie worked for the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board starting church libraries throughout the south, while pursuing her musical interests with a female trio. After marriage, Marie maintained her interests in music and gardening throughout her long life, but her passions were her family and her church. Marie was a devoted member of West Broadway Baptist Church, where her father was pastor, and for the last 60 years has been a loyal member of Broadway Baptist Church.

Stopher’s late husband, Joseph E. was a former Kentucky State Fair Board member, and played a crucial role in securing a strong relationship between the Kentucky State Fair and the American Saddlebred Horse Association. In 1994, the famous warmup chute at the Kentucky State Fair & Exposition Center was dedicated to Joseph as Stopher Walk.

The family is most grateful to the caring staff at Jefferson Place who have provided support for eight years. There will be a memorial service at Broadway Baptist Church at 11am on Saturday, July 15, 2017. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that expressions of sympathy be given to Broadway Baptist Church, 4000 Brownsboro Road, Louisville, KY 40207.
 

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