Sheila Esthay

Services for Sheila LeBert Esthay, 62, will be held on Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010, at 11 a.m. at The Way, The Truth, and The Life Ministries, 1005 Mesa Blvd, in Grants. Entombment will be during a private ceremony with immediate family only. Relatives and friends are invited to a reception immediately after to celebrate Sheila's life and to offer support to the family. She was born on Oct. 3, 1947, in Jennings, La., to Elry and Ruth LeBert, and passed away at her home, surrounded by her loving family on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2010. The cause of death was due to a prolonged yet heroic struggle against cancer.



She attended Egan Elementary, Iota High School and graduated in May of 1997 with Honors from McNeese University receiving a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Employed by the federal Bureau of Indian Health Services, she lived in Grants and worked at ACL Hospital until retiring due to her illness in 2007.

Sheila was a proud member of The Way, The Truth, and The Life Ministries and loved her church and its members. She was very passionate in the area of politics and firmly believed in actively participating in the political process. Sheila was a true patriot and loved her country immensely, praying for it daily. Sheila will be especially remembered for not only her commitment to the nursing profession, but the care and concern she displayed to all of her patients, especially those during her employment with hospice. She will also be remembered by her family for her strength, endurance, courage and humor in the face of insurmountable odds. She never lost faith, never gave up hope, was always humble and never stopped loving, being a devoted mother and grandmother until the very end.



She is survived by her sister: Karen Jackson of Lake Charles, La.; her brother Kenneth LeBert and wife Rita of LaGrange, Texas; her sons: Jesse Folds and wife Michele of Milan, Jason Hebbler of Lake Charles, La., Justin Esthay of Jennings, La., Jon Esthay of Lake Charles, La.; her daughter: Alison Gray and husband Preston of Lake Charles, La.; her grandchildren: Austin Council, JD Folds, Serena Ruff, Trevor Ruff and Aubrianna Folds of Milan; uncles: Milton Simar and wife Diane of Iota, La., Lynn Simar and wife Judy, Jay Simar and Buddy Simar and wife Wanda of Evangeline, La.; aunts: Lois Harpin and late husband Tony, Evelyn Johnson and late husband Hilton of Jennings, La., Judy Fuselier and husband Billy, Lucille Stoute and late husband David, Loah Simar and late husband Sonny of Evangeline, La.; one nephew, nieces, and numerous cousins.



Sheila was preceded in death by her mother: Ruth Simar; father: Elry LeBert; grandfather: Louis Simar and grandmother: Ada Goad. Memorial contributions can be mailed to Jesse Folds, P.O. Box 2876, Milan, NM 87021. Wreaths, flowers and memorial gifts are welcome and can be sent to The Way, The Truth, and The Life Ministries, 1005 Mesa Blvd, Grants, NM 87020. Thank you to our church and its wonderful members for not only giving Sheila a spiritual home but a loving and caring extended family. We also wish to, thank her friends for their help and support, but most importantly we give thanks to our Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ for giving us these precious years with her. God has never promised us that life would be easy, just that it would be worth living.