Obituary of Estella H. Birkhead Markel

Estella H. Birkhead Markel Funeral Services for Estella Hope Birkhead Markel of Godfrey, IL, formerly of Winfield, MO will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 5, 2011 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home near Winfield. Rev. Mike Ryan, pastor of Winfield First Baptist Church, will officiate with burial in New Salem Cemetery in Winfield, MO. Mrs. Markel, 87, passed away Monday afternoon, January 31, 2011 at Alton Memorial Hospital in Alton, IL. Born November 30, 1923 in St. Louis, MO she was the daughter of John Henry Jefferson and Maime Estella Anthony Davis. She was united in marriage on March 3, 1946 in St. Louis, MO to Nickson "Nick" Clinton Birkhead. This union was blessed with two children, Harold Dean and Cathy Estelle Birkhead. Nick passed away September 3, 1994 after 48 years of marriage. She was married again on June 18, 2005 in Alton, IL to Ira Eugene Markel. She worked for many years as a customer service representative for Curtain - Mathison Scientific, now Fisher Scientific. She was a member of the Winfield First Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Maime Davis; her first husband, Nick Birkhead; her second husband of 3 years, Ira Markel; five brothers, Guy, Harold, Howard, Homer and Harry Davis; and three sisters: Arelia Beuhler, Geneva Terrell and Juanita Davis. Survivors include a son, Harold Dean Birkhead and his wife, Evelyn, of Glen Carbon, IL; a daughter, Cathy Estelle Birkhead of Bethalto, IL; two step-sons: Ron Markel and his wife, Sharon, of St. Louis, MO and Van Markel of Granite City, IL; two grandchildren: David Birkhead and his wife, Tammy of Troy, IL and Jason Birkhead and his wife, Jessica, of St. Louis, MO; four great-grandchildren: Bryan, Brandon, Wesley and Henry Birkhead; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home near Winfield. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Homes, 3838 East Highway 47; P.O. Box 253; Winfield, MO 63389. Online condolences may be made at www.carterricksfuneralhome.com.